Chargers' Te'o to miss game with surprise injury

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- It seems that San Diego Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te'o cannot avoid controversy, whether it is his fault or not.

Some 24 hours after stating that the Chargers suffered "no significant injuries" from Thursday night's preseason loss to the Seahawks, head coach Mike McCoy announced Te'o will be out of practice for a week and miss next Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears.

"Manti has a foot sprain and he will be out this week and I will give you any further updates as the week goes on, or next week," McCoy said. "But he will be out for the week."

Te'o, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year at Notre Dame, watched the Saturday workout while wearing a walking boot.

Te'o, a second-round pick and a starter at the inside position, played two series against the Seahawks. When asked when Te'o was injured, McCoy seemed to side step the questions.

"I'm not ... he has a foot sprain," McCoy said. "I will say that and move on from there."

McCoy didn't reveal Te'o's injury when asked at Friday's press conference.

"As of right now, no one has reported any serious injuries from last night," he said then. "I haven't sat down with our trainer yet, but I will in a little bit."

But when asked Saturday when he became aware of Te'o's ailment, McCoy replied: "We diagnosed it after the game."

This is the second time in camp that McCoy's information on injured players has been spotty.

Wide receiver Danario Alexander suffered a knee injury last week, which McCoy downplayed after practice. Later it came out that Alexander had a torn ACL and is lost for the season.

Now Te'o won't suit up next week, and maybe longer.

"I think any player is disappointed when they have a little injury that is going to keep him out for a little bit," McCoy said of Te'o's reaction. "But it's part of the game and he will do whatever he can to get back on the field as quickly as possible."

Bront Bird filled in for Te'o and is next up on the depth chart at Te'o's position.

Also on Saturday, running back Danny Woodhead missed another practice and McCoy wouldn't reveal the injury or Woodhead's anticipated return.

"No, I'm not going to explain (it), no," McCoy said. "He'll be back on the field when he is ready to go."

--Team correspondents for The Sports Xchange contributed material for this story.