Everybody, you can just relax, calm down. There’s no need to panic. … Antonio Gates is going to be fine.

That was the tone taken by North County Times columnist Jay Paris, who spoke with the Chargers’ All-Pro tight end in reacting to the news that Gates visited a foot specialist this week in North Carolina:

“Just taking precautionary action because of the struggles in the past and all the things I have been through,” Gates said Friday at Chargers minicamp. “It never was a major problem; it was something I wanted to make sure wasn’t any worse.” …

Gates shed his ankle/toe/foot ailments last year and — even for him — had an eye-opening season. After two years of playing with nagging injuries, Gates caught a team-high 79 passes for 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns.

Then word leaked that Gates was visiting the same North Carolina foot specialist he saw for previous foot ailments and warning flags started flapping.

But cancel the code red. Gates, a six-time Pro Bowler, said he was being safe so he wouldn’t be sorry later.

To boot, Gates’ pain is in his right foot, not the left one he’s had problems with in the past. So why worry?

Other news from Around the Web on Saturday:

• Texans WR Jacoby Jones has his eye on a starting spot.

• It appears the Vikings will start the same five offensive linemen as last season.

• The Titans have no plans of signing any other running backs.

• Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is confident in his players to run the new 3-4 scheme.

• Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan wants the defense to be on the attack.

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