Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light goes through a drill Friday at Gillette Stadium. He had flu-like symptoms earlier in the week.

The Providence Journal/ / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — According to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a partially torn ACL and the team has left it up to him as to whether or not he’ll play today. He is officially listed as doubtful (25-percent chance of playing), though tight end Antonio Gates was also doubtful for the game with Indianapolis and did play.

If Rivers can’t go, or if he can’t finish the game, Billy Volek will replace him.

Volek, in his eighth year out of Fresno State, led the Chargers to their game-winning touchdown against the Colts last week but has never faced New England.

With Tennessee in 2004, Volek started eight games in place of injured Steve McNair, and became just the fourth player in NFL history with back-to-back games with more than 400 yards passing when he threw for 426 against Kansas City and 492 the next week in Oakland.

New England linebacker Mike Vrabel was asked about the potential of facing two quarterbacks.

“I think any quarterback in this league is going to try to rely on his playmakers, and they have plenty of them,” Vrabel said. “As far as advantages go, I think we’re going to have to be prepared for the starter and then if the backup comes in, we’ll have to be prepared for that as well.”

Volek spent 10 years of his childhood living in Walla Walla, Wash., hometown of former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe.

Belichick’s mood swings

Bill Belichick tries not to show too much when he’s at the podium for his daily press conferences, but it’s hard for him to disguise when he is pleased with the effort and progress his team is showing as it prepares for a game.

Take this week. On Tuesday, when he and the coaching staff were compiling their game plan and the Pats players were at Gillette Stadium for meetings, he was a bit crusty.

But by Thursday, he was cracking jokes about how to deal with the cold weather and the San Diego “Super Chargers” song, smiling and talking about what keeps him going to work every day.

It is nice to see Belichick at those times, but it may be bad news for the Chargers.

News about Moss’ incident

Yesterday, the Boston Herald reported that Rachelle Washington, the woman who received a temporary restraining order against Randy Moss, has faced eviction hearings three times in Florida. As recently as last month, Washington was given three days to pay her back rent or move out. She came up with the money in time.

Moss’ attorneys claim Washington’s lawyer, David McGill, demanded the receiver pay $500,000 to her to keep the alleged Jan. 6 incident quiet.

smanza@projo.com