COSTA MESA (CNS) - Running back Melvin Gordon was absent today when the Los Angeles Chargers conducted their first training camp practice of 2019.
The two-time Pro Bowl selection did not report to training camp by Wednesday's deadline and was placed on the reserve/did not report list. He is in the last year of his contract, a fifth-year option worth $5.6 million.
Gordon is seeking a new contract and will demand a trade if he does not receive one, his agent Fletcher Smith told ESPN. Gordon is subject to fines of $40,000 per day missed of camp under terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement.
``We don't like to talk about players that aren't here,'' coach Anthony Lynn said after the approximately two-hour practice at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa.
``We understand his situation. We love Melvin. We're a good football team with Melvin, but he's not here."
Lynn said he did not think Gordon's absence will be a distraction.
Also missing the practice was offensive tackle Russell Okung, who disclosed Thursday on Twitter that he suffered a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots in June.
``After experiencing unusual chest pain at practice June 1, I went to urgent care out of an abundance of caution,'' Okung wrote. ``According to the doctors who treated me, the decision to do so likely saved my life.''
Okung wrote that he is ``feeling great physically.''
``As soon as doctors clear me, my plans include blocking #17's blind side all the way to Miami,'' Okung wrote, referring to quarterback Philip Rivers and the site of February's Super Bowl.
Okung is at training camp, attending meetings and ``helping with the young guys,'' Lynn said.
Lynn said he thought the Chargers had a good practice Thursday.
`I didn't want to go zero to 100 on the first day back, so we kind of eased our way into it,'' Lynn said. ``Tomorrow (Friday), we'll be full-go. I'm just trying to keep everybody healthy and give them a chance to make this football team."
2019-07-26 01:10:27