Nick Hardwick will likely be declared Physically Unable to Perform today or tomorrow, but the Chargers center is confident he won't be so designated by the end of training camp.

“I really feel like I'll be back before that list allows,” said Hardwick, who had surgery on his right foot in March. “I don't want to be sitting that long.”

A player placed on the Active/PUP list cannot participate in training camp or in exhibition games. The player can attend meetings and do rehab. The team, however, can declare him active any time before the final roster cut the week before the regular season starts.

If a player is on the Reserve/PUP list when the season starts, he must remain there for six weeks. During that time, he cannot practice. That means a player on PUP would likely not return to games until at least the eighth week.

The Chargers could also use the PUP on tight Antonio Gates and fullback Andrew Pinnock as a precaution. A player has to be put on Active/PUP before training camp in order to be eligible for Reserve/PUP. Players on PUP do not take up a roster spot.

“We may have quite a list on PUP to start with,” General Manager A.J. Smith said.

Hardwick seemed resigned to his spot on the sideline to start training camp.

He ran on a treadmill yesterday for the first time since his surgery and said he has come a long way in the month since he got off crutches.

“It seems like the progress is speeding up now,” he said. “ . . . . I'm not losing any more sleep about it. Right now I feel really good. I have total faith this is going to be OK.”

Nuts 'n' Bolts

The Chargers will likely announce the release of receiver Eric Parker today. Since being informed by the team last month that Parker would be traded or released, his agent has been in contact with numerous teams and Parker is expected to sign with someone else immediately.

There was no news regarding first-round pick Antoine Cason, according to his agent. The sides are close on terms, and there remains optimism a deal will get done soon. Veterans report tomorrow, and training camp officially begins Friday.