The Los Angeles Chargers brought some much-needed stability to their offense by bringing back former Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates on a one-year deal for the 2018 campaign.

However, there is still some uncertainty if he will be able to play in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs as he will take the practice field for the first time since returning to the team on Wednesday, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.

Given that it is a short period of time for him to get physically ready at his age could prove to be a challenge for Gates at this point of his career. There is no question that he has likely kept himself in good physical condition to play, but he will once again have to adjust his body to be able to take the contact and aches that come from initially getting used to that once again.

What should help him out is that he has been through this process many times in his career and has been playing the last few years at an advanced age in the league that has given him a better feel of how to manage his body. It may just come down to him getting his feet under him a bit in practice first to prevent himself from suffering any setbacks by taking the field in a regular season game just yet.

That said when he does return he has a chance to make a significant impact in the passing game. He has developed a strong bond with Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers that should see him remain a huge factor in the red zone. Gates is coming off a campaign where he recorded 30 catches on 52 targets for 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns while playing in all 16 regular-season games for the first time in three years.