Gates has been able to practice fully this week while still trying to overcome his foot problems. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Williams has been struggling to overcome an ankle injury. He could latch on elsewhere, especially after leading the Titans with 55 catches in 2007. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

The veteran linebacker's production slipped considerably last season, so any injury is especially troubling in light of that. If he proves healthy for the real games, though, he still has the potential to be a very valuable IDP. Bulluck has been one of the best in the league during his career. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Looks like Tucker will become a waiver-wire pickup as opposed to a late-draft sleeper. Merriman's situation doesn't seem likely to end well, so don't forget about his second-year potential replacement. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Well, this seems like a really poor decision on Merriman's part, especially because he still has another year left on his contract after 2008. Nevertheless, we have to put him back on our IDP draftboards, albeit at a spot lower than the one he occupies when healthy. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

You can't draft Merriman at this point. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

The former undrafted rookie could soon become a hot name in the league and among IDPers. Take a late-round stab at him while you can. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Tucker finished his rookie season last year with a three-sack performance against Oakland. At 6-3, 258, he brings good size and explosive speed. Go ahead and look at him as a late-round sleeper, status which will only be enhanced once he officially replaces Merriman. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

It sure sounds like Merriman will at least be lost for this season. Forget about him in IDP leagues, but keep an eye on his replacement, whether it be Marques Harris or Jyles Tucker. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Tucker figures to get some more playing time if Merriman is out for any significant period. Tucker put up 3.5 sacks as a rookie last season, despite playing in just six games and starting none. He could even be a sleeper to take over should Merriman fall out of the picture. He'd become a fantasy sleeper if he did take over. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Harris started three games and collected 4.5 sacks over the past two seasons. He could become a fantasy sleeper if Merriman will miss significant time. He'd have to battle second-year player Jyles Tucker for the job, though. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

If you're draft happens before he makes the decision, you probably can't draft Merriman, at least not before the final round or two. Even if he decides to play it out, he can't be any more than a very late pick. Merriman's absence would also be a big blow to one of the league's best fantasy team defenses. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

It's never good to see that name connected to a player. We'll have to see what the prognosis is, but for the time being, you have to downgrade Merriman at least a bit. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Obviously this is great news for the team and anyone who has drafted him already. We'll have to see just how close Gates is, however, to the player we've gotten used to. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Fantasy owners hope so to, Antonio. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Young still doesn't look good in the pocket and certainly hasn't shown he's any kind of solid draft selection for your team. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Hawkins caught a 51-yard TD pass from Kerry Collins while playing withe the second unit. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Just a precautionary move. Since the Rams play on turf, Coach Norv Turner of the Chargers aren't gonig to push things. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

The second-year free safety began his career at corner after finishing as a safety in college. He appears settled in at safety now, though, and could be a strong IDP sleeper on a pretty good defense. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Stewart should be ready for the season opener. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

If Wilhelm doesn't improve on that front, it could open up the possibility of Anthony Waters replacing him at some point. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Rivers looked solid in his one-plus quarter of action, leading the Bolts on two scoring drives. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Jones got work in place of Albert Haynesworth over the spring and early summer. Don't be surprised if he's starting next to the big guy by mid-season. We'll have to see whether that leads to any IDP value. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

The injury isn't thought to be serious, but Jackson has missed seven straight practices. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

If that. Rivers is coming off ACL surgery, and they don't want to push it. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Waters will have to prove that the knee can hold up if he's to beat out Derek Smith for a starting job. Waters is an intriguing prospect for whenever he enters the lineup. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

My how Williams has fallen, especially considering how highly touted he was when he was drafted. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Rivers told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Jackson has looked "amazing" and is catching everything. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

He'll probably start on the PUP list. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Haynesworth had the most productive season of his career in a contract year in 2007. Now that a clear shot at unrestricted free agency looms, he could be even more motivated. Look out for the big guy this season, and draft him somewhere among the middle-tier IDP linemen. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

There had been concerns about a holdout, spurred lately by GM A.J. Smith's public comment that the team had made it's final offer to its first-round pick. Cason could win the No. 3 corner job this season but won't offer much fantasy value until he starts. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

The plan is reportedly to work Jones mostly at tackle, but he could seem some time at end as well. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Parker is expected to latch on elsewhere pretty quickly. Cleveland is rumored to be the most interested. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Smith joined the Chargers as a free agent in the off-season after being released by the Niners. He's not a strong IDP option even if he starts, though, as his tackle numbers dipped quite a bit before he left San Francisco. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Although the team is hoping to get him back in time to play in the first exhibition, this could severely hamper his chances to win a starting inside linebacker job this season, at least from the beginning. It's also quite worrisome to see any more surgery in that same knee. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

The 2005 first-rounder has missed six games and seven starts in each of the past two seasons. He is good when on the field, however. If he can get and stay healthy, the contract will look fine. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Cason already missed the first day of practice with his new team. It's hard to imagine lengthy squabble over an end-of-the-round deal, but we'll see what happens. The Chargers should be in fine shape even if their rookie corner makes himself a nonfactor. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Something could be Brewing with Parker, and it's likely that he want be a Charger much longer. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Gates is coming off foot surgery and will be among several of the walking wounded for the Chargers at key skill positions. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

The rookie has impressed folks in Tennessee already. Don't be surprised if he's starting before the year is out. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

This has been expected ever since Kearse signed, but I'll be surprised if he starts 16 games there. Kearse is far closer to done than to his best years. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Tomlinson handed out bumper stickers and shook hands with passers-by. "I have experience helping owners with their leagues, I got a good track record, and I'll be ready on Day one," he told the Associated Press. "And the kicker, I'm all about scoring touchdowns." (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Hawkins was the team's fourth round pick in the Draft, and he probably enters training camp as the No. 4 receiver. (Marc Pruitt/SportsBuff.com)

Haynesworth has been seeking protection against getting franchised again next year. If the team is hesitant to agree to that, this could linger into training camp and create a distraction, if not a slow start for Haynesworth. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

If he is convicted and faces league discipline, this timing would seem to push any suspension at least a couple of weeks into the season. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)

Harris became the most highly paid tackle ever, so Haynesworth must be seeking to unseat him. If the two sides can't agree by 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, it might indicate how large Haynesworth's demands are. (Matt Schauf/SportsBuff.com)