Chargers tight end Ladarius Green was being evaluated for a possible concussion Wednesday, four days before the already shorthanded Chargers open the season vs. the Lions.
Longtime top tight end Antonio Gates is serving a four-game suspension to start the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Green, who’s entering his fourth season, has 36 catches over the last two seasons. He had three touchdown catches in 2013, flashing some of the potential that made him a fourth-round pick in 2012 and, the team thought, the heir apparent to Gates.
With Gates out the Chargers kept three tight ends on their initial roster: Green, David Johnson and Kyle Miller. Johnson has 23 career catches, just five in the last two seasons, while Miller’s only NFL regular-season appearance came in 2012.
Tight end Alex Bayer was signed to the Chargers’ practice squad after he was released by the Rams. If Green isn’t cleared for Sunday, Bayer could be promoted to the active roster.