Chargers : Clay Hurts Neck; Out at Least 4 Weeks
At first the John Clay trade was shocking. Then it was controversial. Then it was disappointing. Now it is just plain sad.
Listing his latest injury as a “cervical strain,” the Chargers placed Clay on the injured reserve list Friday. That means he can’t play for at least four weeks.
Clay was supposed to start at left tackle Sunday against the Chiefs in Kansas City. Instead, the team will have to go with Ken Dallafior, a player they cut this summer.
The Chargers acquired Clay from the Raiders in late July along with two undisclosed draft picks in a deal that sent Pro Bowl tackle Jim Lachey to Los Angeles. Things got dicey when Clay showed up overweight and suffering from a muscle strain. He couldn’t practice right away.
That injury got better. But Clay was slow to pick up the Charger offense. He started last Sunday against Seattle only when regular Gary Kowalski couldn’t play because of a neck injury similar to the one that forced the Chargers to place Clay on injured reserve.
Steve Ortmayer, the Chargers’ director of football operations, said there was no connection between the injury that Clay arrived with and the one he has now. According to the Chargers, Clay hurt his neck in practice Wednesday and traveled to Los Angeles Thursday for an examination that confirmed the injury.
The Chargers moved immediately to replace Clay on the roster when they signed Chris Gambol, a 6-6, 303-pound tackle recently waived by the Colts. Gambol was a third-round selection in 1987. He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a bad back.
Dallafior’s most recent start at left tackle was Dec. 7, 1986, when the Chargers shut out the Houston Oilers, 27-0.
It is highly unlikely that Gambol will be able to help the Chargers in Kansas City. Offensive lineman James FitzPatrick is eligible to come off injured reserve after the Chiefs game.
In the event of an injury Sunday to Dallafior, the Chargers will move right guard Dennis McKnight to left tackle and insert reserve Darrick Brilz at right guard.