Chargers: Melvin Ingram, Ryan Mathews plan to play in opener

San Diego received a scare when Chargers OLB Melvin Ingram (first round, 18th overall) left Friday's preseason game against the Vikings with an injury, but Ingram is confident he will be ready for the season opener.

Running back Ryan Mathews continues to sound confident he'll be ready too.

It initially appeared Ingram had hurt his left knee. Ingram stood soon after, and trainers applied ice to his left thigh.

“[Ingram] has a thigh bruise,” coach Norv Turner said Sunday. “It was what we hoped it was. Hopefully he will be back and be able to play in this game Thursday.”

Despite Turner's optimism, it appears unlikely Ingram will play against the 49ers in the final preseason game. Ingram worked with a medicine ball Sunday but gingerly walked around. “I am just trying to get back as soon as possible,” Ingram said. “It's a day-to-day process. However I feel this week or next will determine when [I return].”

Ingram was much more confident in his ability to play in the season opener against the Raiders. “Of course,” he said, smiling.

Mathews, who broke his right clavicle in the first preseason game against the Packers, is getting stronger in his rehab workouts. Mathews is also doing considerable work with a medicine ball, plus bands, cardio and handling a football.

Mathews reiterated his goal to play in the season opener despite the original forecast of missing four-to-six weeks. “I am trying to keep everything positive and keep focused on the first game,” Mathews said. “I had a really good surgery. I felt real good a couple days after. I started running the first week.”

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