Much has been made this week about the comments San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates made about quartertback Philip Rivers following last Sunday’s victory over the Oakland Raiders.

Rivers, who has struggled the past month as the Chargers have gone 1-3, has a “severe rib injury” according to Gates. Rivers was on the injury report on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately more was made of that than he indented it to be,” Rivers said. “As a buddy, he was trying to give a compliment but it ended up, ‘Oh what’s a matter?’

“I can honestly say there is nothing going on hindering me in any way. It’s part of playing the position and I will be fresh and ready to go on Sunday.”

Rivers said the news getting out before the home game against the St. Louis Rams shouldn’t matter.

“I don’t expect I will get hit any harder on Sunday than they already try to,” he said. “They can only hit us in certain areas now. Those defensive guys don’t have a lot of room and the midsection is one of the areas they are allowed to hit. So I’m sure it will be just like always.”