INDIANAPOLIS — It’s nice to feel wanted.
And according to Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, even though Antonio Gates will turn 38 in June, the tight end still adds value to his team.
“Absolutely,” Lynn told reporters Thursday at the NFL scouting combine. “We had a good exit meeting. It’s something we haven’t talked about with Antonio in detail yet, but he’s one of the greatest Chargers of all time.
“For a guy to take a back seat to Hunter Henry last year, take a secondary role, and still be the leader that he was for our players, it was just very impressive.”
Gates is set to become an unrestricted free agent later this month, but indicated at the end of last season that he would like to continue playing.
The future Hall of Famer saw a reduced role with the Chargers in 2017. He played 478 snaps, finishing with 30 catches for 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Gates hasn’t had numbers that low since his rookie season in 2003.
Gates — the NFL leader in receiving touchdowns by a tight end, with 114 — and Philip Rivers have connected for 87 scores during their time with the Chargers, the most in league history for a tight end-quarterback tandem.
An eight-time Pro Bowler who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State in 2003, Gates is the Chargers’ franchise leader in receptions (927), receiving yards (11,508) and touchdowns (114).
Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said he would be in touch with Gates’ representatives at the combine this week.
“We’ve still got some things to talk over, but I also realize how much he brings to our football team,” Telesco said. “He showed that last year. So they’re not always easy answers, but he showed at the end of the year what he can still do.
“I’ll probably know a little more in a couple weeks, and we’ll talk with some people here.”
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