The Facts: A 12-year veteran, Gates knows he’s closer to the end than the beginning of his NFL career. So how much longer will he buckle up the chin strap on game days? “For me, it’s all about how I feel as a person, and how my body feels, physically and mentally,” Gates said. “As of right now I feel great. I feel good physically. I’m in a great place mentally. So I’ll just see how it goes. I have no expectations on how long I will play, or if this is my last year."

Diehards Line: Gates added: "As of right now, my main focus is just being around the guys, getting acclimated with the new fellas that are here and still winning a championship in San Diego.” The Kent State product finished with 69 receptions for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns -- the second-most of his career and most TDs since his second season (13) in 2004. Gates said he’ll evaluate at the end of each season where he’s at physically and mentally in order to determine if he wants to keep playing. As ESPN.com's Eric Williams notes, Gates skipped most of the off-season work to keep the wear and tear down on his body. On Tuesday, Gates caught the first pass from Philip Rivers during the first rep of 7-on-7 passing drills and then watched from the sideline for most of the two-hour practice. Expect more of the same throughout the summer, but don't discount Gates' ability to produce this fall.