The Facts: Allen, who hasn't been on the field since the opening game on last season's schedule, made a surprise return to full-team drills when OTAs opened Tuesday. "I actually didn't think I'd be out here competing like this," Allen said.

Diehards Line: According to Times staffer Dan Woike, Allen’s first practice since tearing a ligament in his right knee in September went well, with the fifth-year receiver and Philip Rivers connecting on passes in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. “We’ve been real cautious with him. We’re just working him in right now on a limited basis. He’s full go,” HC Anthony Lynn said of Allen. “…He’s been running well. He’s been running routes well. And, he’s done a hell of a job in the training room.” Allen originally thought he wouldn’t be healthy in time to participate in any of the OTAs, never mind the first one of the summer. Training camps seemed like a safer bet for Allen’s return. But Tuesday, Allen looked like his old self, save for the bulky knee brace. He was able to run routes at full speed, digging his right foot into the turf before cutting and sprinting. Those dynamic movements, the ones that have helped Allen catch 221 passes in his NFL career, were the final hurdles he needed to clear to get back on the field.