CHARGERS: Hot August Nights: As a No 3, QB Whitehurst has to sizzle in the summer games

As a No 3, QB Whitehurst has to sizzle in the summer games

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, August 6, 2008 11:01 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- August is game month for Charlie Whitehurst, the Chargers' third-string quarterback. And if all goes well health-wise for Philip Rivers and Billy Volek, he won't see the field again until next August.

Whitehurst turned 26 on Wednesday, and the birthday gifts didn't include guarantees of regular-season playing time. He needs two strokes of misfortune to occur before he runs the team.

But waiting ---- and waiting and waiting ---- his turn hasn't sacked his sense of humor.

"I joke a lot that I haven't been hit in two years," Whitehurst said. "That's a positive you can take out of it."

Whitehurst will see real-live game action on Saturday when the Chargers open the preseason slate against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. He'll play in the second half after Rivers and Volek conclude their evenings.

He promises he won't be rusty but admits it feels like it's been a while since he took snaps in a game.

"Definitely, I haven't been in a game in a long time," said Whitehurst," so you have to try and make practice feel like a game.

"Though it's been a while for you, it still kind of comes back to you quickly."

Whitehurst was a successful college quarterback at Clemson, and is the school's record-holder with 9,665 career passing yards. The Chargers thought highly enough of him to select him in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft.

After last season ended, it temporarily looked like Whitehurst might end up as the team's backup quarterback this season. But Volek, the second-stringer who engineered the game-winning drive in a playoff victory over Indianapolis, re-signed with the Chargers instead of leaving as a free agent.

That assured Whitehurst would again be No. 3 for a third straight year.

"That's not my ultimate goal, for sure, in this thing," Whitehurst said. "You don't want to sit and back up and be the third-team guy your whole career.

"I don't know if patience is the right word here but you just keep pushing and hopefully you get an opportunity."

Rivers can relate to Whitehurst's situation. He was a first-round selection in 2004 and spent two years sitting and watching Drew Brees quarterback the Chargers.

"I know how it is," Rivers said. "I think he has the right approach to it. He's learning and trying to get better. This time of year is big time for him to go out there and perform and play well.

"I think he's going to be a heck of a player. He has all the tools. It's just getting the opportunity."

Whitehurst spent last season practicing against the Chargers' first-string defense by running the upcoming opponent's offense in practices. That allows Whitehurst and coach Norv Turner a chance to gauge Whitehurst's progress.

"Anyone who has been a second or third quarterback knows you have to hone your skills when you're running someone else's offense and when you're getting those (practice) reps in May and June," Turner said. "That's how guys become starters.

"There are so many examples over the last number of years when guys got a chance to play and then taking advantage of it. I always tell them there is no such thing as not having enough reps. You get a chance and go make the most of it.

"You can go all the way back to (Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer) Johnny Unitas, who I'm sure wasn't getting many reps (as a backup). When he got in there, nobody got him out."

Waiting his turn is different for the Whitehurst family. Charlie's father, David, wasn't given much time to learn before being thrown in as the Green Bay Packers quarterback in 1977.

"His first start was as a rookie on a Monday night (against Washington) and he was a lot younger than I was," Whitehurst said of his father, who started 37 games for the Packers during his seven NFL seasons. "As a rookie, he was two years younger than I was."

Whitehurst has two years left on his contract and maintains he's not looking toward the future. He's aware that getting on the field with the Chargers is out of his control.

But make no mistake, he looks forward to eventually getting his chance. And the goal is to be ready when it arrives.

"I don't know if it really matters when you get the opportunity," Whitehurst said. "It matters if you're ready when you do get it."

Chargers notes

It will likely be Saturday morning before Chargers coach Norv Turner decides whether ILB Anthony Waters plays that night against Dallas. Waters underwent knee surgery on July 18. TE Scott Chandler (back) also could be in jeopardy of missing the contest. … Backup S Paul Oliver will be among the players Turner observes closely against the Cowboys. Oliver was inactive for every game last year after being chosen in the 2007 supplemental draft, held in July. "This will be a real good chance for us to evaluate him and see where he is in his progression," Turner said. ... Chargers GM A. J. Smith was at the Wednesday night practice, his first apperachce since shoulder surgery earlier this week. ... OT Marcus McNeill (stinger) underwent an MRI and missed Wednesday night’s practice. His availability against Dallas is questionable at best. “We’re going to give him a couple days to just settle it down,” said Chargers coach Norv Turner, who will wait to see how McNeill feels in coming days before deciding whether to play or sit him. Veteran L.J. Shelton would start in McNeill's place.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com.

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