SAN DIEGO -- ChargersPro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates was taken off the field on a cart after injuring a left toe late in the second quarter of Sunday's playoff against Tennessee.
NFL Network's Derrin Horton reports Gates had X-rays taken that came back negative. The three-time Pro Bowler will attempt to play next week against Indianapolis depsite the severely sprained toe.
Gates slipped after catching a short pass from Philip Rivers and was hit by tackle Tony Brown and linebacker David Thornton. He got up, tried to walk and then sat down to await team trainers.
The team initially announced that Gates was questionable to return, but he did not come back into the game.
The Chargers rallied to score 17 second-half points without Gates, who finished with two receptions for 15 yards.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press