Ryan Mathews’ clavicle was broken on his first carry of the preseason, a terrible fate for anyone. But Mathews seems not concerned in the least about the injury, claiming he’s a “fast healer.”
He underwent surgery Friday and the prognosis for his return was set by the team at four to six weeks. That would keep him out of at least the first game of the season and up to the first three.
But the team’s tope running back said he plans to be back much sooner.
“I think I heal pretty fast,” Mathews told reporters, according to U-T San Diego. “I think I’ll be good in time to play against the (Oakland) Raiders. . I’m happy it happened now than against the Raiders. It’s better that it happened now, just to get it out of the way. It gives me a few weeks to recover and get back at it.”
Coach Norv Turner was not so convinced the back who had 1,091 yards last season could rebound so quickly. He said it’ll take a “fortunate” recovery for Mathews to play in four weeks.
Entering training camp last month, Turner said Mathews, who made the Pro Bowl last year, was in the best shape of his career and could have an even bigger year this season because he’d get additional opportunities near the goal line. Then the injury occurred.
“You work hard and then something like that happens,” Mathews said, “but I figure that I’m getting them all out of the way now, and then I’ll have the whole season, a long season, to look forward to.”
Mathews said he “landed wrong” and was injured when Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk landed on him. “It’s just something that happens,” Mathews said. “You’ve just got to walk away from it, kind of laugh at it and get better.”
