Tight end Antonio Gates, who went to incredible lengths and tolerated immense pain to play in two separate postseasons, tried again to play through an injury on Sunday.
But after getting his left ankle rolled a second time, Gates left the game in the second quarter and did not return.
“I couldn’t put any pressure on it,” said Gates, who wore a protective boot after the game. “On that last play where Philip hit me down the middle, a guy fell on it again. The pain became really difficult to deal with at that point.”
Gates entered the game as the league’s fourth-leading receiver with 478 yards. He caught two passes for 12 yards before leaving, unable to put pressure on his foot any longer.
The league’s third-leading receiver also left the game early.
Malcom Floyd suffered a hamstring injury and did not play the final quarter. He had two receptions for 15 yards.
Receiver Legedu Naanee was inactive with a hamstring injury.
Gates will undergo tests today and could be in danger of having his team-leading regular-season start streak stopped at 85 games.
