Jason Verrett will miss the remainder of the 2016 season.
On Tuesday, the Chargers cornerback reported to the team that he was dealing with knee soreness. An MRI then revealed a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Sources said that Verrett consulted with the team's doctor Wednesday afternoon during practice, and it was concluded that the Pro Bowler will be out for the year.
As if this locker room hadn't absorbed enough of them.
"It hurts, being able to get the results and then seeing my season is over with," Verrett said. "I was off to a good start. I definitely wanted to see how this season goes. I wanted to get back to another Pro Bowl, man. All of the above. I wanted to continue to be out there. It hurts. It sucks. I cried yesterday, knowing it was a possibility with getting the MRI. Now, seeing I have a torn ACL, it sucks."
Verrett, who is believed to have played multiple games with the injury, said that he'll undergo surgery. It has yet to be scheduled. He added that he was told the surgery is the same as if his ACL was fully torn.
Players are taken aback with the number of injuries to have occurred in such a short period of time. Go visit the official Chargers team store, and seemingly half the players whose jersey sits on a hanger is out of commission.
Before Verrett, the team lost wide receiver Keenan Allen in Week 1 and running back Danny Woodhead in Week 2 to torn ACLs. Inside linebacker Manti Te'o, running back Branden Oliver and tight end Jeff Cumberland tore their Achilles tendons in a 28-day span beginning in August.
Wide receiver Stevie Johnson was lost for the year during training camp. Safety Jahleel Addae is recovering from a broken clavicle.
On Tuesday, the Chargers reached out to cornerback Steve Williams for insurance. He officially was signed Wednesday.
Verrett, 25, played through the injury, although it is unclear for how long. He handled 62 of 71 defensive snaps versus the Colts in Week 3, twice hobbling to the sideline. On Sunday, he played 71 of 73 defensive snaps against the Saints.
The injury may have come as early as Week 2 versus the Jaguars.
"There were a lot of plays (against) Jacksonville, Indianapolis and along with this past one where my body was feeling different," Verrett said. "But nobody in this league plays 100 percent. I was shocked with the news. Now, I've just got to move forward with it. ...
"No matter what I go through or put my body through, I'm going to continue to fight. Due to the fact that it is a torn ACL, I've got to get it fixed."
Verrett waited early Wednesday to hear how much time he'd miss.
At practice, while not participating, he played catch with a coach as teammates stretched and then spoke to Chargers general manager Tom Telesco at length. Verrett wore a sleeve over his left leg. He hadn't been listed on the team's official injury report for the knee this year, as the team is believed to have been unaware of it until Tuesday. He was on the report for a calf issue in Weeks 1 and 2.
Nose tackle Ryan Carrethers was waived to clear a roster spot for Williams. The Chargers secondary also practiced without cornerback Brandon Flowers, who has been sidelined since a Week 3 concussion versus the Colts. Flowers has been diagnosed with a concussion in each of his three years with the team.
Casey Hayward, Craig Mager, Pierre Desir and Williams were the team's cornerbacks to practice Wednesday. Those may be the cornerbacks Sunday in Oakland if Flowers doe not clear concussion protocol in the coming days.
Left tackle King Dunlap (migraines), tight end Antonio Gates (hamstring), inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (shoulder) and defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring) were among the notable Chargers players to practice.
