SAN DIEGO - Philip Rivers denies he was yelling at Denver quarterback Jay Cutler in the fourth quarter of Monday night's football game, but video replays and Champ Bailey's comments suggest otherwise.

ESPN cameras caught Rivers apparently yelling at Cutler, with linebackers Matt Wilhelm and Shaun Phillips standing alongside him, after the Chargers' defense forced a fourth-down incompletion with 8:35 remaining in the 23-3 victory over the Broncos.

"I didn't say nothing to him," Rivers said Wednesday. "There were facial expressions looking that way, but I was talking to Shaun Phillips and Wilhelm. I was a third party in that deal. They were going at it way before I got on the scene."

Bailey, Denver's eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback, sharply criticized Rivers in a story that The Rocky Mountain News posted on its Web site Wednesday afternoon. Bailey called Rivers a "classless guy" and said he has lost respect for him.

"He's not a respectable guy right now, because you talk too much trash and do this and that, but you're really not a great player in this league right now," Bailey said. "You're surrounded by great players but you're not a great player. I think he needs to understand where he stands in this league - where he stands on his team first and foremost."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said he spoke to Rivers about his conduct.

"I know guys get caught up in it," Turner said. "But he's young. I've talked to him and he understands where I'm coming from. Everything is a lot more visible."

Kaeding sidesteps damage

Kicker Nate Kaeding underwent an MRI exam on his injured lower left leg Wednesday, and the results came back negative, showing no structural damage.

Kaeding injured his plant leg on the opening kickoff of Monday's game while making a tackle. He kicked three field goals after the injury but eventually gave way to punter Mike Scifres on kickoffs.

Turner said he expects Kaeding to handle the place-kicking duties against Oakland on Sunday and would prefer to have Scifres focus on punting.

The Chargers plan to bring a few kickoff specialists in for workouts.

Et cetera

OLB Marques Harris underwent surgery on his broken right hand Wednesday morning, and coach Norv Turner said Harris is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game. … DT Jamal Williams (ankle, hip) missed Wednesday's light practice workout, but DE Luis Castillo (ankle) and ILB Brandon Siler (shoulder) were full practice participants. … FB Lorenzo Neal (fibula) continues to make strides from the injury he suffered against Tennessee on Dec. 9. "He's working as hard as anyone can," Turner said. "I think he's making good progress. We just need some time. We need to have (playoff) success so he can get back at some point."