UPDATE 4:23PM EST - Chargers.com Managing Editor Ricky Henne is saying that the Chargers have not made any move ending Scifres' season today and they are not expected to at this time.
UPDATE 1:46PM EST - San Diego Union-Tribune San Diego Chargers beat writer Michael Gehlken is now reporting that the Chargers will host punters tomorrow with the decision to sign one coming this week. Some names that have been mentioned are Robert Malone, who worked behind Scifres in training camp in 2012, as well as potentially Sav Rocca and Mat McBriar.
San Diego Chargers punter Mike Scifres fell hard on his shoulder during the Sunday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots after Brandon Bolden knocked him over after a blocked punt. Scifres had to be carted off the field after having his shoulder and core wrapped after the contact with Bolden.
It was announced first by Ian Rapoport that Scifres would have surgery today and should be ready in the case that the Chargers are still able to make the playoffs. It still remains to be seen if the Chargers would be signing a punter for the interim or allowing icker Nick Novak to handle the punting duties. Novak punted a few times against the Patriots, for his first punts since high school.
In addition to punting duties, Scifres is the holder for the extra point and field goal attempts of Nick Novak. In Scifres’ absence, the next person on the depth chart for those roles would be Safety Eric Weddle. With three weeks left, it is highly possible that the Chargers will just use Novak and Weddle to fill in Scifres’ duties on Special Teams.
Mike Scifres has spent his career in San Diego since he was drafted in 2003 and is known as the most accurate punter in NFL history. In 2013, Mike has landed 227 of 573 punts inside the 20 yard line. The Chargers are going to desperately miss Scifres while he recovers from this injury.