With Mike Scifres expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, and perhaps longer, after suffering a fractured clavicle on Sunday, the Chargers are bringing in punters for workouts this week, says Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter links). While kicker Nick Novak was an adequate emergency fill-in for Scifres against the Patriots, the team will sign a punter, likely a veteran, this week, per Gehlken.
It’s not clear yet which punters will be invited to tomorrow’s audition, but as Gehlken points out, Robert Malone, who worked behind Scifres during the Chargers’ 2012 training camp, is one option. Veterans Mat McBriar and Saverio Rocca are also “a short drive away,” if San Diego has interest in them. Adam Caplan of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) that Chris Kluwe, Brian Moorman, and Adam Podlesh are among the other notable free agents currently on the market.
Scifres was reportedly set to undergo surgery this morning on his fractured clavicle, at which point the timetable for his recovery would be determined. There was optimism that he’d be able to return for the postseason, should the Chargers qualify. If that’s the case, San Diego would have to keep him on its 53-man roster — if the procedure is considered season-ending, Scifres could be moved to IR in order to accommodate the addition of a new punter.