Hardwick has foot surgery

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Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Last November when Chargers center Nick Hardwick returned after missing four games with a foot injury, he knew something still wasn’t right.

“I just fought through it every game,” Hardwick said. “The foot specialist we saw said there was nothing wrong, so I felt like I had to play through it. He basically said if I could tolerate the pain I should be able to play. I took that as, ‘Get back out there, you weenie!’”

Hardwick fought through the pain and played in the Chargers’ final six regular season games as well as their three playoff contests. After the season ended, he hoped the foot would get to feeling better through rest. When that didn’t happen, Hardwick visited another foot specialist and eventually underwent an operation to repair the sprain. The surgery took place on March 14.

“I really thought after the season if I wasn’t playing on it and I was resting, it would heal,” Hardwick said. “I just knew it wasn’t getting any better. When I went to see Dr. David Chao, he told me I needed to see a specialist.”

Hardwick has spent the last week at his parents’ house in Indianapolis resting and recovering, although he won’t be able to begin rehab for a couple months.

“(Rehab) is non weight-baring for about 12 weeks,” Hardwick said. “I can’t do much right now. I’m doing ankle flexion and toe flexion, little things like that. All I can really do is ice and elevate and try to stay off of it.”

Doctors have estimated a four-to-six month recovery period, which could put him back as early as late July and as late as September. Hardwick admits he wishes the situation would have resolved itself sooner, but he’s taking everything in stride.

“I just have to get over it and concentrate on getting better,” Hardwick said. “Sure I would have liked to have had it done after the playoffs, but it didn’t happen, so now we’ll move on.”

Four Chargers re-sign

Tackle Jeromey Clary, wide receiver Malcom Floyd, safety Steve Gregory and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney all signed their one-year contract offers with the Chargers. The four players were Exclusive Rights Free Agents (EFAs), meaning they each have two years of NFL experience. Cornerback Cletis Gordon is the only EFA who has yet to sign.

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