Antonio Gates could soon find himself back in a Los Angeles Chargers uniform.

According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, the Chargers "preference" is for the 38-year-old tight end to re-sign with the team before training camp opens on Friday.

Gates is currently a free agent and Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said after the NFL draft that he would not be re-signed after 15 years with the team. However, the team lost starting tight end Hunter Henry to a torn ACL in May, creating a need at the position.

Gates has caught 927 passes for 11,508 yards and 114 touchdowns — all Chargers records. He set the NFL record for TD catches by a tight end early last season. He caught just 30 passes for 316 yards and was targeted only 52 times last year, his lowest totals since his rookie season.

Gates would compete for the team's starting role with free agent signee Virgil Green. Los Angeles is loaded with pass-catching talent, including Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen and a full complement of wideouts, but have a hole to fill a tight end with Henry out for the year.

"You'd love for him to get one more shot to be with us and go make a run at it," Rivers said of Gates back in April. "If it were not to work out, and if he were to decide to hang it up, who knows? He's had a heck of a run. He has nothing left to prove, that's for sure."

He has been selected for eight Pro Bowls in his career.