After losing Hunter Henry to a torn ACL, the Chargers say they will search high and low for potential replacements. That could include a reunion with Antonio Gates, even though the team previously told the veteran that he would not be re-signed. 
[RELATED: Chargers’ Henry Suffers ACL Tear, Will Miss 2018 Season]
“We’ll look at all the options that are out there. We’ve got time to do it right now,” GM Ted Telesco said when asked about Gates (Twitter link via Greg Beachem of the Associated Press).
Gates, 38 in June, still intends to play and it would only make sense for him to return to the only NFL team he has ever known. He’s no longer the elite option that he was in his prime, but he showed last year that he still has something to offer and he stands as one of the better available options at this juncture of the offseason.
Last year, Gates saw less targets than Henry and finished out with 30 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Those were his lowest totals in each category since his 2003 season.
Gates’ last deal paid him roughly $11MM between 2016 and 2017. A new deal with Gates would surely be a one-year pact and would likely cost the team less than $5.5MM. Right now, the Chargers’ tight end depth chart is headlined by Virgil Green, who is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher. After that, they have a pair of former UDFAs in Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman.
I’ve never been a Chargers or Antonio Gates fan, but I think it would be a shame if he ever put on another uniform other than the blue and gold.
Surprised they haven’t reached out to Lewis.
Who? While I wish the Chargers would go after Antonio, I’d actually be shocked if they did. I can see them calling up Ladarius Green to see if he’s done or not, or going after someone like Gary Barnidge as well. They really have no one as a receiving TE. Perhaps they just play a WR there. Mike Williams is a pretty big dude but he’s coming off a back injury