Chargers’ Philip Rivers Showing Remarkable Progress After Major ACL Surgery In Late January

Three months ago, Philip Rivers promised that there would be no sign he had undergone major knee surgery when training camp arrives in late July Who knew the same would apply in June?

The San Diego Chargers concluded a second week of voluntary offseason coaching sessions on Thursday, and Rivers’ recovery has been swifter than the pace of Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown around a racetrack.

In many ways, it is hard to believe it was just four-plus months ago that Rivers tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a playoff victory in Indianapolis. He underwent surgery on Jan. 23.

The Chargers’ quarterback has been able to run at full speed for a month now and was taking regular doses of snaps against the first-team defense during the light practice sessions.

“It’s amazing how much better it gets each week,” Rivers said earlier this week.

Rivers was publicly optimistic from the outset that the recovery would be swift, but there were numerous emotional bumps shortly after the surgery. The pain in his knee was often unbearable, and getting quality sleep was out of the question.

“I’ve certainly come a long way,” Rivers said. “I remember that first week, feeling like ‘This is bad.’ Just the whole thing. The first week or two was really miserable. Just hurting. I can’t sleep. Just getting situated. It hurts to straighten it out. Is it ever going to feel good?

“It’s amazing now. There are some times when I don’t realize that I ever had anything. Out here, you have a brace and you’re a little bit more conscious of it. But just around the house and stuff, there are times when I can go hours and not even think about it.”

With the regular season just three months away, the emphasis will be on ensuring Rivers doesn’t suffer any setbacks between now and September.

He certainly hasn’t been babied in May and June. Nobody could have legitimately forecasted that Rivers would be this far ahead of schedule.

“He’s probably doing more than I thought he’d be doing,” coach Norv Turner said. “I was prepared to have him really not do anything except maybe throw routes against air. He’s making great progress. Obviously, we’re being very careful with him and limiting some of the things we’re asking him to do. But he’s getting the reps throwing, and he’s getting reps against our defense. It’s good work for him.”

Rivers said he has completed his normal offseason throwing workload since the 2007 season concluded. He has also been doing the necessary mental work to continue his improvement as a quarterback.

Turner said offensive coordinator Clarence Shelmon and quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell have been working closely with Rivers on the cerebral part of the game in terms of technique and reviewing every offensive play from last season.

“Every play we had is cut up in a number of different ways,” Turner said. “We’re as thorough as we can be in terms of preparing these guys to get ready to play another season.”

With so much focus on Rivers’ rehabilitation, his stellar late-season play has been somewhat forgotten.

Rivers was one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL during the final six regular season games —- his quarterback rating was over 100 in four of those contests —- and in the playoffs.

Through 10 regular season games, Rivers had more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and had seemingly regressed from his first NFL campaign as a starter. Then he threw 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions during the team’s six-game winning streak to end the regular season.

Turner would like to see the end-of-the-season success carry into the 2008 season.

“We were explosive,” Turner said. “We were one of the top two or three offenses in the league over that stretch. I just expect him to keep building on that.”

As for the physical part of the game, the 26-year-old Rivers said the focus between now and training camp will be on strengthening his knee. He often talks to cornerback Antonio Cromartie —- who underwent ACL surgery in 2005 —- to get a gauge on where he is in the recovery process. He’s also aware numerous NFL players, including new teammate Jeremy Newberry, have made swift recoveries from what once was a devastating injury.

“I was healthy to play that same season, so I know it’s possible,” Newberry said of Rivers’ situation. “I was on the field probably 3 1/2 months later. When you’re younger, your body bounces back quick, too. He’s a young guy, and he’s got that on his side. He’ll be just fine. I don’t see that being a problem at all.”

In fact, nobody views it as a problem —- certainly not the person whose knee was repaired.

“I think we’re on schedule,” Rivers said. “I’m doing more than I maybe thought I’d been able to do practice-wise if you asked me this in February.”

- Mike Sullivan, North County Times