The Facts: The moment the Chargers lost tight end Hunter Henry for the season was the moment speculation began that the team might elect to bring back Gates for one more year. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is all for the move. “Well, shoot, I’d always be excited if he walked back in the door obviously,” Rivers said. “That’s something that Tom [Telesco] and John [Spanos] and coach [Anthony Lynn] and those guys I’m sure will discuss and see about bringing anybody in for that matter, but certainly [Gates’ return] would get my vote.”

Diehards Line: Gates, 37, remains a free agent, and the Chargers already had announced they were moving on before Henry tore his ACL last week. Rivers and Gates have talked since Henry’s injury. Telesco, the team’s General Manager, said the Chargers would “look at all the options that are out there.” Virgil Green, Braedon Bowman and Sean Culkin are among the tight ends already on the roster.