SAn diego chargers

SAn diego chargers

Rookie OL Lamp tears knee ligament

COSTA MESA, Calif.

Los Angeles Chargers rookie offensive lineman Forrest Lamp tore a ligament in his right knee Wednesday during the fourth practice of training camp.

Lamp was taken off the field on a cart, and the second-round pick’s injury was later diagnosed with an MRI exam. The results were another bad break for a franchise that struggled with inordinate injury problems over the past two seasons in San Diego.

“We’re going to miss him,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told the team’s official website after the diagnosis, which was revealed several hours after practice. “He was really getting better each day. It’s unfortunate, but like I’ve told him, things happen for a reason. He’s going to get some time off, so make sure he makes the most of it. But he’ll still be in it. He’s going to be around, and be in it mentally. He’ll remain an important part of the team.”

Los Angeles already is starting preparation for its relocation season without first-round pick Mike Williams. The receiver from Clemson won’t practice in training camp after hurting his back during the Chargers’ offseason workout program, and it’s unclear when he will return to uniform.

San francisco 49ers

Former Olympian out to prove he’s no decoy

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Unlike the long jump, playing receiver is more difficult to rehearse. Without a defender trying to disrupt a long jumper’s timing, the opponent in track and field is often a time or measurement.

Few know the subtleties of both track and pro football like 49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin. Predictably, the 2012 Olympian’s speed is his biggest asset. Five of his six career touchdown receptions have gone for 40 yards or longer, while he often streaks past defenders to get open.

But entering his first season with San Francisco, Goodwin, who finished 10th in the long jump in London, is working on what he can’t do in track. He’s focusing on change of direction, diversifying his route tree and becoming more than a deep threat.

“I’m constantly evolving as a receiver,” he said. “People are used to seeing me run just ‘go-balls.’ That’s not the case [anymore].”

Through a handful of training camp practices, Goodwin has emerged as the explosive element of the 49ers’ offense. He’s often been the target of deep passes from new quarterback Brian Hoyer, giving 2016’s last-ranked passing attack an element it lacked.

Before joining the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 NFL draft, Goodwin posted one of the fastest 40 times in scouting combine history at 4.27 seconds.

CHICAGO BEARS

Trubisky takes snaps with second team

BOURBONNAIS, Ill.

It was a sign of things to come for the Chicago Bears, whether in the near or distant future.

Labeled the third-team quarterback and a developmental project at the outset of training camp, rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky took snaps with the second team on Wednesday as the Bears completed a full week of practices.

“Don’t read too much into it,” coach John Fox said. “It’s just a matter of getting guys through different centers, different groups. It’s something that we mentioned would happen at some point throughout camp.”

The Bears traded up to the second pick in the first round to select Trubisky out of North Carolina in the 2017 draft, so his progress is important even if the plan is to let him learn behind starter Mike Glennon and backup Mark Sanchez.

It has been an up-and-down process to this point.

On Saturday, Trubisky fumbled three snaps in one drill, and then fumbled the next day again. He has since been steadier since.

“He’s learning a whole new offense,” Fox said. “A whole different NFL coverage package that we see, a little bit more extensive types of coverages. So I think the guy’s done everything he can. He’s improving every day.”

Associated Press