You can't place too much confidence in offseason team website reports. Everyone is ahead of schedule in rehab and looking great in the padless workouts. But that's not to say there isn't some value in those stories.
Melvin Gordon underwent microfracture knee surgery in January, and there was speculation he wouldn't even participate in team drills at OTAs. But Gordon has progressed from individual drills to team work, and has finished strong according to the coaching staff. Better to be drawing praise in June than the alternative.
"He definitely finished strong,” said Ken Whisenhunt. “Early in this period, he wasn’t doing a whole lot. He was just doing the individual. But probably over the past two weeks I’ve seen some really nice cuts, some explosive runs and hopefully that trend will continue.”
On the one hand, Gordon had a really disappointing rookie season. Add in the offseason knee surgery, and he's not a player to get excited about.
But San Diego didn't add any running backs in the offseason; just a fullback. Former Wisconsin teammate Derek Watt, in fact, so there's a familiarity for Gordon. Gordon and Watt in two-back sets and Danny Woodhead in passing situations; that should be the backfield.
Nobody will be falling over themselves to select Gordon in fantasy drafts. He was just a sixth-rounder in our experts draft last month, taken after 27 other backs.
But he's healthy, starting, and on a team which should be improved on the offensive line. Not a player who should be drafted in the early rounds, but the middle ones, if available? You could do worse for a possible starter.
--Andy Richardson