"Antonio Gates got free at the line and ran unfettered to the back corner of the end zone, where he turned and caught the pass as he fell backward into the pylon for his first touchdown reception this season.

He got up, slapping his chest. He was back.

"It was good," said Gates, who missed the previous three games with lingering pain in his right foot as he dealt with scar tissue tearing in his comeback from plantar fasciitis. "… I felt wonderful. Some plays came my way. I was able to make them. It was fine."

Gates played perhaps a few dozen snaps in Sunday's 27-21 loss to the New York Jets, coming in and out in his first game since Sept. 18 at New England."