CHARGERS: Chambers likely to miss Sunday's game

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Friday, October 10, 2008 5:11 PM PDT

Chargers wide receiver Chris Chambers is likely to miss Sunday's game against the Patriots with a sprained ankle. NCT file photo.

SAN DIEGO ---- It appears unlikely that receiver Chris Chambers will play Sunday night when the Chargers host the New England Patriots, due to the sprained left ankle he suffered in Sunday's loss to Miami.

Chambers didn't practice at all this week and was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report. He said he's not even sure he'll test the ankle in pregame warm-ups.

Chambers said he'll leave the decision up to team doctors.

"If I can make it this game, I'll make it," Chambers said. "If I can make it the next game (against Buffalo), I'll make it. It just depends. It's a day-to-day process."

Chambers said the ankle has improved steadily over the past few days and that he hasn't yet ruled out attempting to play.

He broke into a smile when asked if he was hoping to play, wanting to play or wishing he could play.

"All three of them," Chambers said. "Go have fun with that one."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said that reserve receivers Craig "Buster" Davis, Legedu Naanee and Malcom Floyd will all see action Sunday night. Turner said a decision on who starts ---- whether it's Chambers or someone else ---- will be made on Sunday.

What revenge?

Because the Chargers lost to the Patriots in last season's AFC Championship Game, several players have faced questions this week wondering if Sunday's tilt is a revenge game.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson served up the best response in explaining how there's no way a mid-October victory over the team that kept you from the Super Bowl qualifies as revenge.

"For us, this is not a revenge game because nobody is going home if they lose the game," Tomlinson said. "It's just going to be another game and then next week you have another opponent. So it's not a revenge game at all."

What is clear is the importance of the matchup. The Chargers (2-3) are two games behind Denver in the AFC West and only five of the AFC's other 15 teams have won fewer games.

Losing to the Patriots and dropping to 2-4 would leave the Chargers facing a tough uphill challenge.

"It is a must-win game for us," Tomlinson said. "We need a win desperately. We can't afford to drop this one."

Veteran nose tackle Jamal Williams also senses the urgency.

"We know we have to win this game," Williams said. "I'm not going to say this is the most important of the season, but you're not going to just go out there and say 'Hey, we're going to go and lose this game.' Our approach is to go out and win every game."

Familiar face

New England's backup quarterback Sunday night is Kevin O'Connell, formerly of La Costa Canyon High and San Diego State.

O'Connell wasn't expected to take any snaps this season, but Tom Brady's season-ending knee injury changed his situation. O'Connell made a cameo appearance in the Patriots' 25-point loss to Miami and completed 3-of-4 passes.

"He's made good progress," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "Kevin has worked hard at it. He's a smart kid and he's picked things up pretty quickly ---- things that are new to him ---- so he's coming along."

Et cetera

OLB Jyles Tucker (hamstring) was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report but said he will attempt to go through pregame warm-ups on Sunday to see if he has any chance of playing a limited role. "That's the plan right now, to try to go out there and see what we can do," Tucker said. "If I can go, then I'll go. If not, I'll sit down one more week and be ready for Buffalo." ... The Chargers listed the following four players as probable for Sunday's game: CB Antonio Cromartie (hip), WR Vincent Jackson (knee), FB Mike Tolbert (ankle) and RB LaDainian Tomlinson (toe).

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

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James wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:37 PM:I just seen Merrimann on FSB and he said he's not sure if the Chagers can handle the Pats "O", so many different plays in thier book. Our team has something missing, Right now. The bye week this year is to far away! And I hate to say this but he picked the Raiders too win. What!!!!

Just in case u missed it wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:48 PM:NORVACAIN:
Pronunciation: NOR-VA-CAIN

Norvacain is a fast working drug. Norvacain is injected into the heart of a football team in an attempt to replace a Motivational Coach with an Offensive Coordinator with the intensity of a librarian. Though it may be worth trying, this injection alone is enough to make Fans nervous about any football game where player intensity may be required. The risk is that usually one season of Norvacain could potentially be dangerous to the health of the team by numbing the team for the duration of any football Championship window.

Along with its known effects, Norvacain may cause some unwanted effects, such as ,passive, unmotivated play, lack of focus and intensity, fatigue, playing under players potential, demise of leadership, breakdown of the team unit, loss of team character, emotionless and unprepared gameplanning, becoming injury prone.

Team Captains will attempt to call team meetings in an effort to bolster the troops in an effort to ward off this invasion, however, continued exposure to the Norvacain soon proves fatal to the Team chemistry and players frustration soon begin to fester.

Early warning signs are when the Defensive Captain states:

It took me a while,” Merriman conceded Monday. “I kind of get rowdy, get up for a game by yelling and screaming and everything else, and Norv wasn’t like that.” He added, “I’m waiting to hear him tell me to get up and run through that wall over there, and it never happened.”


Fans being exposed to literally watching their team transition from being a perennial Championship team to a team best remembered for playing at a waterpark, soon experience any of the following side affects,

loss of Appetite,high blood Pressure, Bluish lips and fingernails; breathing problems; chest pain; convulsions (seizures); dizziness; drowsiness; fatigue; fever; headache; irregular heartbeat; itching; nausea and/or vomiting; pale skin; raised red swellings on the skin lips tongue or in the throat; rapid heart rate; restlessness; unusual tiredness or weakness; Back pain; constipation; difficulty in opening the mouth; inability to hold bowel movement and/or urine; loss of sexual function; paralysis of legs; persistent numbness; prolonged numbness or tingling of lips and mouth; shivering; skin rash; tingling or pins and needles sensation.

Reallythough wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:44 AM:RAIDERS SUCK!!!! GOOOOO CHARGERS!!!! PATTIES WILL GO DOWNNNNNNN!!!!

To Toilet Dude wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:31 AM:Man you sure do spend alot of time and thought on the CHARGERS. Did they hurt you in some way? Were you a CHARGER fan before, and they just kept letting you down? You did not have the heart to stay loyal so you turned to the team that would help you get some kind of payback for all the heartache. Only you picked the worst team. Now every year your pain grows, and your bitterness is not quenched, as the raiders loose to the CHARGERS game after game.. POOOOR Toilet. I feel for you man.

Toilet Bronco Duck wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:54 AM:ToiletDuck claims to be Bronco fan,But his true passion is his hatred for the Chargers

Toilet Duck wrote on Oct 11, 2008 12:42 PM:Commenting on this site takes about 2 minutes.

If that.

Such effort.

I never claimed to be a Bronco fan and have no idea where that lie came from. My "hate" for the Chargers is nothing more than being forced to listen to Charger fans the past few years talk about their impending SB dynasty they were going to rub in our faces. Now that its not going to happen, Im here to rub dirt back in their faces. Before 2003, I didnt even know who the Chargers were as they were nothing more than a team the Raiders beat twice EVERY YEAR. Ive been a Raider fan since 1970 so thats quite a bit of hatred for Charger fans to build up. That is the source of all the SB talk and how it was going to be rubbed in our faces. Im here to remind you of your recent failure to get to the SB let alone win it.

Maybe had Charger fans actually waited until they won something before talking, I wouldnt be here.

Just like I wasnt here before 2003 and I wont be here once Norv is finished destroying your team.


You guys thought you were going to finally get payback for 40 years of losing to the Silver and Black. You guys have waited for years to be better than us and only a SB win would be sufficient to rub in our faces. Thats why we see 2 or 3 Raider threads going all the time on Charger forums even when the Raiders stink. Thats why, at Charger games, you can hear some Raider hater watching the scoreboard hoping Oakland loses when they are already eliminated and are no factor. Thats why some have Raider hater handles instead of names that have the Chargers. Then there is "Raider Week". Ive been a Raider ST holder since 1985 and have never heard the term "Charger Week".

Yet you try to convince me that its my "hate" that has me here.

No, actually, its payback for all the hateful stuff that a Raider fan living in SD has to deal with that has me wanting to issue payback now that your SB delusion is crumbling. Raider fans have no reason to hate the Chargers as youve never won anything significant. The Chargers can only seem to beat us in rebuilding seasons after our SB runs. Yet you brag about that as if its something to brag about.

You are now attempting to claim this has made me hate your team.

5 years of beating us head to head (when you STILL have never won a SB) pales compared to what weve done to you for 4 decades.

You think Im hating on you?

Im laughing at you as your SB dream crumbles.

You will never have anything on us.

NEVER!

The Raiders have closed the gap and are on the rise.

Neither team is going anywhere this year but we werent supposed to.

You were.

Thats the story.

The end is near.

TO TOI wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:17 PM:Hey man, I know this great therapist! Or move out of S.D. dude.

Steeler Fan wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:40 PM:We rule! What do the raiders have on us?Beeoches!!

BOLTMAN wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:55 PM:Domination over the so-called raider nation is the situation that has caused the inflamation of toilets presentation and explanation, or should I say hateration.

RandyR wrote on Oct 11, 2008 3:11 PM:Best fantasy trade ever! I got rid of LT for Brandon Marshall!!

Toilet Duck wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:16 PM:I need a therapist for 6 seasons of losing?

Why should I leave SD?

Im about to have so much fun watching Charger fans squirm when the Raiders return to glory and start menacing them once again.

Just like old times!

Toilet Duck wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:20 PM:Domination is defined in 6 years?

Wow?

What is it called when its 40 years of one team beating the other?

Humiliation?

Youre flaming out in a year you were supposed to go to the SB. There wont be many of those again if youre a Charger fan.

Thats the story!

Im sitting back and laughing as I know my team knows how to get back to the SB every decade.

YOU DORK DOLT FANS wrote on Oct 11, 2008 4:36 PM:Hate is for stupid people!!! The only thing that all of you have is no thing better to do in S.D. area then to follow 2 losing teams for way to long! COME JOIN THE DARK SIDE!!!!1

James wrote on Oct 11, 2008 5:35 PM:Hey TD,

Let's solve your little whiny dilemma. Just move out of SD. Go live in that wonderful town of Oakland or amongst the classy Oakland Fans of L.A. Man, you cry like a whiny little baby.

James wrote on Oct 11, 2008 7:55 PM:I don't hate Raider fans, my boyfriend of 4 yrs is a Raider fan. So to use the word hate is not like me!

James wrote on Oct 11, 2008 9:54 PM:Oh, right TD...very cliche...homophobia...nice...I'll say hi to your girlfriend for you tonight...

T wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:06 AM:Whining?

Im whining?

Show me one phrase where I whine.

Just one.

Im rubbing it in your face and youre whining about it.

I have nothing to whine about as my team is rebuilding while yours is flaming out.

Nice diversion though.

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