SAN DIEGO >> Manti Te’o has gone through his first practice with San Diego Chargers veterans today, and by all accounts he didn’t embarrass himself.

He was matched up against tight end Antonio Gates a few times, which quarterback Philip Rivers calls “a quick welcome, Day 1.”

Te’o and other Chargers went through the first day of organized team activities, which are practices in helmets, jerseys and shorts, but no pads.

Te’o, the linebacker from Notre Dame, was picked by the Chargers in the second round after slipping out of the opening round in part because of a poor performance in the national championship game against Alabama. 

He also was part of a girlfriend hoax that drew national headlines.

The team pulled an end run and kept Te’o away from a large media contingent today.