Chargers running back Ryan Mathews missed practice Thursday because of an injured left foot, a setback coming on the heels of what coach Norv Turner felt was his best game as a pro. Mathews ran 21 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and had four receptions for 51 yards in a victory over the Chiefs. A lack of practice snaps hinders the momentum built on Sunday, but Mathews is confident his foot won't impede his progress.

The Chargers will be without tight end Antonio Gates in Sunday's game against the Chiefs. Gates is dealing with foot issues. The lingering issue kept him out of six of San Diego's final eight games last season. He had seven catches for 84 yards in San Diego's season opener against the Vikings, but was held without a catch last week against the Patriots.

Patriots defensive end Andre Carter has been fined $15,000 for a hit on Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers last Sunday at Gillette Stadium. Carter said Friday he plans to appeal the fine. "Fed-Ex mail," Carter said of how he got the news. "I thought I was home free, but there ended up being a nice little letter on my seat. I kinda knew what it was. I opened it up and it notified me that I got fined." Carter got flagged for unnecessary roughness after leading with his helmet on a hit on Rivers at 13:16 of the second quarter on Sunday. Chargers defensive tackle Antonio Garay was also fined $15,000 from the same game, for hitting Tom Brady below the knee.

Chargers defensive tackle Antonio Garay has been fined $15,000 for hitting Patriots quarterback Tom Brady below the knee last Sunday, according to a source. The incident happened in the third quarter of New England's 35-21 victory when Garay reached out his left arm into Brady's left knee. Brady, who escaped unscathed, on Monday credited the brace he was wearing on the knee for protecting him from a potentially devastating injury. "I'm glad I had a knee brace on," Brady said. "Those are scary when you've been through those ones before. He got me in a good spot and I'm glad the knee brace took the brunt of the force. Why I never wore a knee brace before (his season-ending ACL injury in 2008) I have no idea and why every quarterback doesn't wear one on their left knee I have no idea. It's just so unprotected."

The three franchised players without long-term deals, Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai, are not expected to sign long-term extensions by Tuesday's deadline, according to sources. If teams don't sign their franchised players to long-term extensions by Tuesday they have to wait until the offseason.

The Chargers have signed kicker Nick Novak to a two-year contract on Tuesday and placed Nate Kaeding on season-ending injured reserve. Novak beat out Shayne Graham and Dave Rayner for the kicking job after having the best workout Tuesday, according to a source. In 2010, Novak was in training camp with the Chargers.

Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding is scheduled to have an MRI exam Monday to determine the damage to his left knee. It is believed that Kaeding may have suffered a serious injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He was hurt during the opening kickoff Sunday, which Minnesota's Percy Harvin returned 103 yards for a touchdown.

The Chargers say enough tickets have been sold to lift the local TV blackout for their home opener against the Vikings. Last year, three of San Diego's first four home games were blacked out, including their first two. That snapped a string of 48 straight sellouts,

The 49ers have added third quarterback Scott Tolzien, claiming him off waivers from the Chargers a day after releasing Josh McCown. Coach Jim Harbaugh said the team likely would add a third quarterback.