The San Diego Chargers were just dealt a major blow to their defensive unit. Inside linebacker Manti Te’o, defensive play caller and co-caption, tore his Achilles’ tendon on Sunday and will require surgery, ending his season, according to ESPN reports.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Teo said after the game against the Indianapolis Colts. “I live by a quote that says, ‘God puts mountains in front of you to show other people that it can be moved.’ My faith is strong and I know that I will be all right.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t be out there with my brothers and playing, and that is the thing that hurts the most. It was a big year for me, and I worked extremely hard. And there is nothing that you can do now. Just look forward and move forward and keep going.”
Te’o suffered the injury with 5:48 left in the 1st quarter when he was covering Colts running back Frank Gore out in the flat. Te’o hit the ground, untouched, while trying to plant and cover Gore on a pass route.
“It didn’t feel too good,” Te’o said. “And something that when it happened, you just knew it wasn’t really good.”
The Chargers will rely on Denzel Perryman, who will take over as the defensive play caller and rookie Jatavis Brown will replace Te’o in the starting lineup.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries, but we’ve just got to execute.” Perryman said.
“I have been playing this game for 20 years,” Te’o said. “I have been playing this game since I was five and all my family is in my head, and my family here with the Chargers and we just had so many big dreams.
“I had so many big dreams for my team. Just because I am down does not mean that it is over and it is still going, but I just wish I could be right there with them. I am still going to be there just like I was in the second half, but I am not going to be out there with them and that is the thing that hurts the most. It is where I am most comfortable. It is where I have the most fun.”
Te’o has struggled with injuries thus far in his career and has not been able to complete a full 16 game season.