SAN DIEGO (AP) Chargers coach Mike McCoy refused to divulge details of right guard D.J. Fluker’s second concussion in five days and the fourth of his three-year NFL career.
Fluker didn’t practice Wednesday and was listed on the injury report as having a concussion. But McCoy wouldn’t say when during the loss Sunday to Kansas City the guard was injured, or when the concussion was diagnosed.
Fluker sustained a concussion in practice last Wednesday and did not practice Thursday or Friday. He was cleared before the game.
McCoy was asked about the concussion five times Wednesday and evaded a direct answer each time.
Asked when the concussion was diagnosed, McCoy said: ”He was in the concussion protocol going into the game and he was cleared by an independent neurologist like everybody is who has that. He came in and so now we’re evaluating him again.”
Asked to confirm Fluker suffered the concussion in the game, McCoy responded: ”We’re evaluating it like we reported. We’re doing what we’re doing.”
The coach was asked whether Fluker experienced symptoms after the game or on Monday.
”He’s in the normal concussion protocol,” McCoy said. ”I’ll leave it at that. Each individual … we’ll keep that, yeah.”
Asked again when Fluker was hurt, McCoy said: ”When we have to put out an injury report we’ll put the injury report out like we did today and that’s what we did.”
Pressed for details, the coach said: ”He’s in the concussion protocol and like every other injury with you guys I’m going to tell you the same thing. That’s where we’re at right now and I’ll leave it at that. He was cleared for the game and we’ll go from there.”
A few minutes later, McCoy snapped at a reporter and walked out of the news conference after a repeated line of questioning about whether Javontee Herndon would remain the punt returner or if the team would look at using other players.
Herndon muffed a punt in the fourth quarter in the 33-3 loss to the Chiefs.
The Chargers have only one net yard in punt returns this season. The return game is so bad that Jacoby Jones was waived on Nov. 4.
Also Wednesday, receiver Malcom Floyd returned to practice in a limited role. He tore the labrum in his left shoulder in a loss to the Bears on Nov. 9 and missed the loss to Kansas City.
”I pretty much did everything. I caught everything,” he said. ”I was jumping and everything. I’m encouraged. I just want to test it in some contact.”
The earliest that could be would be Sunday at Jacksonville, if he’s active.
”I hope so,” said Floyd, who’s retiring after this season. ”They’re just easing me back in. I would love to be out there.”
Quarterback Philip Rivers said Floyd ”looked good. He had a big smile on his face. That would certainly be a boost for us to have him out there.”
San Diego (2-8) has lost six straight.
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