National Football League

Te'o returns to Chargers practice

Published Sep. 18, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Manti Te'o practiced Wednesday for the first time since injuring his right foot in August.

The San Diego Chargers' second-round pick out of Notre Dame wasn't all the way back but his return represented progress.

''It's been a long time and it's definitely been a learning process,'' said Te'o, who was injured Aug. 8. ''But I'm glad I'm at the stage where I am right now and we're going to get better every day.''

Te'o hoped to work on Thursday as he tries to compensate for his time off.

''He has been in every meeting, been at every practice, been at every walk-through, been on the road with us,'' coach Mike McCoy said. ''He hasn't missed anything besides practice time. It's just a matter of how quickly he gets back into football shape and gets ready to go.''

McCoy said Te'o did have ''a little rust'' and declined to say whether Te'o would be activated for Sunday's game at Tennessee.

Te'o wasn't certain if he would be fit for Sunday, either.

''I hope so, but I don't know,'' he said. ''There's always a chance I can play. To be honest with you, we haven't really tested it. We don't want to test it and take steps back. So what I did do out there, I was cutting, I was taking off, change-of-direction, and it felt pretty good.''

Te'o saw action on just nine preseason plays before getting hurt. He spent the rest of training camp in a walking boot, something he shed about two weeks ago as his running on the sidelines increased.

''I think we are all happy to have him back out there,'' McCoy said. ''That's why we picked him where we did, we wanted him to be part of the team on game day.''

NOTES: Wide receiver Malcom Floyd (neck) didn't practice and isn't expected to play on Sunday. ... ILB Donald Butler (groin) and OLB Dwight Freeney (non-injury) also didn't work out but they should start against the Titans.