Hardwick will not play Friday against Minnesota.||||||| Hardwick, a nine-year veteran who calls out signals to the other blockers, suffered a concussion in practice Tuesday and will not go to Minnesota, coach Norv Turner said.

Hardwick is back for Friday's game against Tennessee.||||||| The sixth-year veteran was hurt in the season opener at Oakland on Sept. 14, sustaining what the team said was a sprained ankle. This will be his first start since that date.

Hardwick was injured after throwing a block on a screen pass against Kansas City and carted from the field. The team said he suffered a concussion.||||||| Hardwick, whose block on linebacker Rocky Boiman helped spring Jacob Hester for a 13-yard gain, stayed on the ground for about 12 minutes while being attended to. He finally sat up and was placed on a cart.

Hardwick had surgery recently on his sprained right foot and is expected to take four to six months to recover.||||||| If Hardwick needs the full rehab period, he could miss the early part of the regular season. Hardwick was hurt early in a game against the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 14 and missed the next four games. He played in the final six regular-season games and three playoff games. Hardwick had surgery on March 14 but the team didn't announce it until Wednesday.