Milligan Out, Possibly for Year

Hanik Milligan, a sixth round pick out of Houston, underwent surgery on Monday to repair a torn pectoral muscle. He is not expected to return this year for the San Diego Chargers. Tim Baker also had surgery on Monday to repair a torn ACL in his knee.

Marty Schottenheimer said Hanik Milligan would probably miss the season. Look for the Chargers to put him on IR sometime later this week. Tim Baker could go to IR, or the team may come to an injury settlement and let him go. A decision on that could occur as soon as tomorrow.

Milligan was injured in Houston on Saturday. He has played well on special teams and his play was one of the reasons the Chargers released Ryan McNeil. Now the secondary is in a bit of a flux while Terrence Kiel recovers.

Kiel returned to duty Monday and went through a light practice. He should be cleared tomorrow during a physical to resume a full schedule and the expected time for him to be playing is four weeks. Since he is coming back from multiple gunshot wounds the timetable likely will not be altered much. This is not a case such as Quentin Jammer, who saw action just weeks after missing camp.

The Chargers will likely compensate the loss of Milligan with another cornerback from their current squad. That means between Kevin House, Tony Okanlawon and Cedric Henry, there is two spots open.

As the late John Butler said, “You can never have too many cornerbacks.”

Denis Savage can be reached at [e-mail]