Chargers’ Allen sheds brace, ready for opener – The San Diego … – The San Diego Union-Tribune

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen lined up across from Kansas City Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters, and on the snap, he threw a filthy stutter step with his left foot before planting his right and pushing back to the inside of the field.

Peters, fooled by the move, went the completely opposite way.

I think hes the best off the line in the league, Chargers safety Jahleel Addae said. He gets into his routes really well, precise with his movements. He and (quarterback Philip Rivers) have a good chemistry, and if hes healthy, hes a top five receiver.

But a step similar to the ones that have made Allen a top NFL receiver also cost him all of last season. After dominating the Chiefs and Peters for most of the first half of last seasons opener, Allen planted that right foot and made the kind of move thats made him one of the best.

Only this time, his right knee gave way after his ACL tore.

When the Chargers play the Broncos on Monday night in Denver, itll have been one year exactly since Allens knee injury. While the road back has been difficult, with the 25-year-old receiver having to deal with mental and physical strain, hes proven to his teammates and himself that hes back ready to make things tough on the leagues corners.

I can tell he was getting comfortable midway through (organized team activities) Just seeing him get his confidence back and seeing him work extremely hard, even post-practice, I could tell hes getting back at it, Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams said. He still has that niftiness and elusiveness. Im excited to see him go in week one.

He can make the tough catches. When youre a DB and youre covering a receiver, you can feel like youre on him like glue. (Rivers) will put the ball where it needs to be and hell make that big-time catch.

During practice Tuesday, the teams first in its week-long build to the opener, Allen planted and juked at full speed without the cumbersome knee brace hes worn for all but two other practices this season.

Allen said he wants to keep the brace in his locker and just be able to go.

Training camp was a grind, he said, as calf tightness that cost him a few days of practice could be traced to compensation for the injured right knee. But slowly, in his mind, Allen started to feel like himself.

It took some time obviously, but the more I kept doing it, the more comfortable I got and the easier it got, he said.

And while hes made it look easy in limited preseason snaps, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn thinks theres still even more there.

Hell tell you he doesnt believe hes 100 percent yet, but I think he looks great, Lynn said. If he just continues to improve and get better, he really is going to do something special.

Getting back on the field Monday will be special. Its something Lynn and the Chargers have been building for since the schedule was released.

And, its something Allens been re-building for since taking that one bad step.

Its just continuing the dominance I have on the football when Im out there, Allen said. I want to keep that going.

Woike writes for the Los Angeles Times.

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Chargers' Allen sheds brace, ready for opener - The San Diego ... - The San Diego Union-Tribune