The Facts: The concept of Gates returning to the Chargers is picking up steam. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers wants the veteran tight end back on the roster -- and he might not be alone. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco acknowledged Friday that bringing back Gates would make sense on the heels of a season-ending ACL injury to pass-catching TE Hunter Henry. "Would be a natural fit, right?" Telesco wrote during a live chat with fans on the team's official website. "I saw that Philip voted for it. When it comes to roster moves, we are not a democracy. But we are not a dictatorship either. His vote was noted and accounted for. Antonio's accomplishments and contributions to this organization are immeasurable. We will see what the future holds. I don't have an update at this time."
Diehards Line:
Adding Gates makes sense, even if he's turning 38 this month. The playbook is drilled into his brain and he can still operate as a red-zone threat. Besides, there's not a ton out there in terms of options. Brent Celek, Coby Fleener and the long-lost Gary Barnidge are looking for work, but the Chargers also have four guys of their own in Virgil Green, Sean McGrath, Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman. ... Stay tuned.