Bad news for local football fans, Aurora's Larry English will not play Saturday night when the Chicago Bears open their 2010 preseason schedule at San Diego.

The outside linebacker and first-round draft choice last year for the Chargers had looked much improved early in camp according to several reports but has missed several practices in the last week to 10 days with a muscle strain in his foot. That's according to a report from Charger beat writer Kevin Acee in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The game will kick off a little after 8 p.m. and be televised on Fox.

Hmmmm ... didn't he miss a practice last weekend with a sore foot?

Linebacker Larry English (sore foot) and left tackle Brandyn Dombrowski (groin tightness) were held out of practice Saturday by the San Diego Chargers. Coach Norv Turner said the team was just being cautious and that both players would have been able to go if it were game day during the season.

Here's what the San Diego Union Tribune reported:

Noting that English had a "great practice two days ago," Turner said the linebacker irritated his foot in the process. "What we're doing," said Turner, "is pulling back before it becomes something chronic."

Apparently the news we brought you last night about a Larry English foot injury wasn't as bad as it might have been. He was back at practice on Monday and doing quite well, according to several reports anyway.

Could it be time to break out the Charger Kool-aid? You decide. Remember, the season is still 41 days away.

On Monday, the North County Times' Scott Bair reported:

"Top developments from Monday's practice

1. OLB Larry English is having a great camp. He was in the backfield several times during the morning workout, creating pressure he couldn't generate last season. He seems much more comfortable at linebacker -- he played defensive end in college -- a positive sign with Merriman continuing his holdout."

The same day, Bleacher Report, which publishes an internet newsletter on the Chargers had this from its analyst Jeremy Beckett:

"Believe The Hype:

Larry English

Sign on San Diego reported that Larry English positively tore it up at practice today. Stating not only will he make Chargers fans forget about Shawne Merriman, but Junior Seau as well.

Apparently, English got to the quarterback on nearly every passing play.

Whats with the Change? So good, so fast, how?

English played his college ball at Northern Illinois as a defensive end. He was converted to Outside Linebacker when he became a Charger.

Although he was very close to a lot of big plays last season, he fell just short. He has devoted his off season into learning his new position, and developing a passion for it. That passion cant be denied. English is going to shock a lot of folks this year."

Aurora's Larry English missed his second straight practice Sunday with what was reported as a "tweaked" ligament in his foot by San Diego Chargers' beat writer Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Larry English missed both Charger practices Thursday and has missed four over the last two days with a minor hamstring injury.

At this point, early in preseason camp, the team is wisely taking things cautiously.

The rookie outside linebacker from Aurora and Northern Illinois University downplayed it, however.

"It's no big deal. It's feeling a lot better," he told the Associated Press, adding that he hopes to return to the practice field by the weekend.

San Diego Chargers' first-round draft choice Larry English missed two practices Wednesday and Thursday's morning practice with a slight hamstring strain.

The San Diego Chargers and first-round draft pick Larry English reportedly agreed to terms Friday afternoon on a five-year contract according to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune.
Chargers' rookies had reported to training camp Sunday night. Veterans reported Thursday night and held their first workout Friday morning. According to U-T beat writer Kevin Acee, English was expected at Friday afternoon's practice.
His report said that after the morning practice, "negotiations (with English) got serious and then moved like lightning."