The insurance policy will get cashed early, as the expected became official yesterday and Ladainian Tomlinson was ruled out for tomorrow's home opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
That means Michael Bennett and Darren Sproles will get the bulk of the carries, as Tomlinson misses a regular-season game because of injury for the first time in his career.
Tomlinson sat out the 2004 season finale when coach Marty Schottenheimer rested many of his starters before the playoffs. Tomlinson also missed the divisional playoff loss to Pittsburgh last January, his only start ever missed to injury.
Tomlinson sprained his ankle in the first quarter of Monday's season opener at Oakland. He did not practice all week, and this might not be the only game he misses.
The Chargers do not need to rush him back, because they have Bennett, an eight-year veteran who had a remarkable preseason.
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