CHARGERS NOTES: Battle to back up L.T. heats up

By SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 9, 2008 11:10 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The search for running back Michael Turner's replacement won't be decided on one August night.

Turner, who provided steady production in LaDainian Tomlinson's stead the past four years, is in Atlanta, lured by a six-year, $34.5 million contract from the Falcons. Filling Turner's void is of chief concern during training camp, with slasher Darren Sproles and physical rookie Jacob Hester duking it out for the No. 2 spot.

Little, if anything, from Saturday's 31-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the exhibition opener at Qualcomm Stadium cleared up the depth chart. Hester and Sproles combined for 23 yards on 13 carries in the first half, when most of Dallas' top defenders were still in the game.

"It's early," Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. "I just want those guys to play. I want them to have a chance to compete and play. They're all good players. This is a great experience for them."

It was an experience Hester knows he'll have to improve upon.

"I have plenty of things to work on," Hester said. "There were some holes I probably should have hit and some cuts I should have made, but it felt good to get out there and get my feet wet."

Hester fared better in the third quarter, when he had five carries for 33 yards and a touchdown. Most of that came on a 21-yard run that led to a Chargers touchdown.

Hester finished with 13 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

Sproles did not play in the second half and finished with seven yards on five carries.

Rivers lingers

Turner let quarterback Philip Rivers play into the second quarter, much more time than a starting signal caller usually gets in the exhibition opener.

Rivers ran four offensive series ---- three more than Dallas quarterback Tony Romo ---- partially because the Chargers will play on the less forgiving artificial surface next week at St. Louis. Rivers likely won't see the field much at Edward Jones Dome to protect a knee that was surgically repaired in the offseason.

"I was going to play him a half," Turner said. "He needed to play enough. That was our plan coming into this game. We go to play on (FieldTurf) next week, and I don't know how much I want him to play."

That bum knee Rivers played with last postseason is healthy again.

"The knee felt fine," Rivers said. "Even (when I got sacked), there was nothing to it."

Waters takes the field

Linebacker Anthony Waters, who has been plagued by knee injuries during his professional career, played his first game in nearly a year. The middle linebacker played exclusively in the second half against the Cowboys, his first game action since the 2007 preseason.