Potential bad news for the San Diego Chargers came out of camp yesterday, when coach Norv Turner acknowledged that All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates is a candidate for the Physically Unable to Perform List heading into the regular season, which would keep Gates out for the first six games of the year.

If you don’t remember, Gates dislocated his left big toe with 3:34 remaining in the second quarter of the Chargers’ opening playoff game Jan. 6 against the Titans. The Chargers won to advance, but Gates didn’t practice at all the following week. He did play in the upset of the Colts but had only two catches for 28 yards. He again didn’t practice the following week but played in the AFC title game loss the Patriots, but again the injury showed as he caught only two balls for 17 yards. He then had surgery on Feb. 27, with a predicted recovery timetable of 4-6 months.

Flash forward to Monday, where Gates participated in only an individual workout as the Chargers kicked off camp with rookies and a few veterans. He tested the toe by running and cutting. But his return to contact drills appears a long ways away, and Gates himself estimated his physical condition at 65-70 percent.

“It still remains to be seen how fast I can progress with no pain, just being able to come out here and play,” he said. “I still haven’t had (any) weight-bearing things going on.”

Obviously Gates is a huge part of the San Diego offense. He had 75 catches for 984 yards and nine TDs last season, and already has 43 career touchdowns (more than Hall of Famer Mike Ditka). That said, Turner won’t push him.

“I’d like Antonio Gates to get as physically ready to play as he can,” Turner said. “If he’s able to practice and play in the last couple of weeks of the preseason, that’s a bonus. If it happens before that, we may not use him a lot. If it’s later than that, if physically he’s all right, he doesn’t need a lot of work to get ready to play.”

Gates said it was too early to know whether he’ll be ready for the season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7. Monday was the third time Gates tested the foot by running, and saw progress when comparing the session to the other two workouts.

“The first time I went out there, I wasn’t able to finish the workout,” Gates said. “The second time, I finished it, but I was really, really sore. Now it’s to the point where I can finish the workout and the next day it will be a little bit sore. As it continues to go on and the progress continues, hopefully I can just get through a workout and feel really good the next day.”