COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Jason Verrett had his "Feeva Island" cleats on in practice this week -- appropriate because the Pro Bowl cornerback is expected to see his first preseason action on Saturday for the Los Angeles Chargers when they face the cross-town rival Los Angeles Rams.

"He's looked good," Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said about Verrett. "But you've got to ease him back in because he hasn't played football in a long time. He's chomping at the bit to get out there, so I'll probably leave him in for a couple series."

Verrett, 26, shut it down last season after a Week 4 contest against the New Orleans Saints when an MRI revealed he had a partially torn ACL in his left knee. After having surgery to repair the issue, the TCU product endured a rigorous rehab to work his way back on the field.

"He's done a great job," Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. "As a player, he has coverage ability and he'll tackle. His intangibles -- how he carries himself, his leadership abilities -- are really, really plus-plus. He's got everything you're looking for in a football player."

The Chargers have taken a cautious approach with the talented cornerback, holding him out of offseason work on the field and slowly working him back into training camp -- to the point that Verrett is full-go this week and ready to take the field in a game situation.

"It was frustrating to not be able to help the team, even though defensively I felt we did a good job last year," Verrett said. "But it was something I got a chance to learn from, got a chance to gain a lot of strength and passion for the game, just being at home for 14 weeks watching. It just showed me a lot more appreciation for the game."

Though Verrett was on the sidelines, fellow cornerback Casey Hayward put together a Pro Bowl season after leading the league with seven interceptions in 2016. Now, Verrett joins the Vanderbilt product to give the Chargers one of the more talented cornerback tandems in the NFL.

"I knew from OTAs and training camp what kind of cat that was, and how special he could be," Verrett said about Hayward. "He showcased that last year, and now having two Pro Bowlers this year, we’re looking to dominate."

Since he joined the Chargers as a first-round selection in the 2014 draft, staying on the field has been a challenge for Verrett.

During the pre-draft process Verrett had surgery on a torn labrum in his right shoulder and was a limited participant during training camp. Verrett then missed 10 games his rookie season due to a hamstring issue and a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.

Verrett's best season as a pro was in 2015, when he totaled three interceptions -- including one returned for a touchdown -- earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl for the first time. However, Verrett still missed two games that season because of a hamstring and groin issue.

Last season, Verrett missed 12 games with the knee injury. In all, Verrett has missed 24 games in three NFL seasons.

"This year I'm looking to get back to where I was," Verrett said. "I definitely feel like I can make it back to the Pro Bowl this year, and I'm just mentally stronger than I was before. This was probably the toughest injury I've ever dealt with.

"It taught me to fight because it was hard. With injuries you have good days and bad days, and you've just got to keep thuggin' it out. It changed my whole mental mindset, just being able to attack every day."

Verrett said the ups and downs experienced going through rehab work made him even more resilient.

"It's real," Verrett said. "There's days you feel stronger, but the next day you feel weak, so it forms your mind to have to attack each and every day. Even your bad days you’ve got to attack it to make it still be all right.

"So when I'm out here on the field, I just keep reminiscing back to those days when I was crying, or I was on the couch and couldn't move, so this game is even more important because of that."

This season, Verrett is scheduled to make $1.5 million in the fourth year of his rookie deal. And the Chargers already picked up his fifth-year option for 2018 at a price tag of $8.5 million.

Verrett understands that a nice pay is available in the near future if he can stay healthy and play to his potential this season.

"Play ball, that's all I can do," Verrett said, when asked about his contract status. "I feel that contract-wise it's going to take care of itself based on what I do on the field. So all I do is focus on the game."

Telesco said Verrett remains one of the foundational players of the organization, and a player they’d like to keep around long-term.

"Jason's an excellent corner," Telesco said. "He went to the Pro Bowl two years ago. He's a big part of this team. We need him. I don’t think there’s anything I need to see from him. I just need to see him be Jason."