Overcoming injuries is something every team in the NFL has to deal with in the course of a season, but every so often a year comes along like the one the Chargers are suffering through right now, where their roster is stretched to the limits.

While it remains to be seen just how many players they’ll be missing next Sunday, tight end Antonio Gates (Toe), wide receiver Malcom Floyd (Hamstring), wide receiver Legedu Naanee (Hamstring), and kicker Nate Kaeding (Groin) all seem to likely candidates to either sit out the game against the Patriots entirely, or miss a large portion of it.

The first three of that group account for 59 percent of the yards accumulated by the Chargers offense, making it imperative that they find a way to return to the field quickly.

According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune, Floyd and Kaeding are sure bets to be inactive, with the Chargers having already brought in former Texans kicker Kris Brown to take Kaeding’s place until he’s healthy enough to return. As for Floyd, his return is still up in the air, and it will likely depend heavily on just how severe his hamstring strain is.

San Diego is hopeful that both Gates and Naanee will be healthy enough to get back onto the practice field at some point this week, making it probable that they’ll be able to play in some capacity, in what’s quickly shaping up to be a must win for the Chargers.

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