SAN DIEGO ---- Chris Chambers made what Chargers coach Norv Turner considers the "biggest play" in Sunday's victory over the Oakland Raiders.

The veteran receiver corralled a pivotal third-down pass with an over-the-shoulder grab before heading out of bounds just beyond the first-down marker. A key fourth-quarter drive had been preserved ---- one that ended in a field goal and took nearly eight minutes off the clock.

Although he didn't know it at the time, it was the last contribution Chambers will make as a Charger. He was released on Monday morning in a surprise move designed to give more playing time to Malcom Floyd and add another contributor on defense and special teams.

"There are a number of things that went into the decision," Turner said. "The most important was the emergence of Malcom Floyd and what we think he can do as an every-down receiver. There are other areas of our football team we need to address, especially on defense and in the kicking game. We're going to address that by adding a player, probably a linebacker, over the next couple days."

The Chargers will fill the empty roster spot from the inside, promoting either Darry Beckwith or James Holt from the practice squad. Both could help on special teams, but Beckwith is the odds-on favorite because he plays inside linebacker, where the Chargers are woefully thin.

Tim Dobbins injured his knee on Sunday and will likely miss two weeks. Kevin Burnett missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but Turner hopes he can return Sunday against the New York Giants.

Chambers, though, is gone after a disappointing start to the season. He had just nine catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in seven games. That's sub-par production for the former Pro Bowler, who averaged 838 receiving yards in his first eight years in the NFL. Chambers had his worst season in 2008, recording career lows with 33 receptions for 462 yards.

Chambers was plagued by a case of the drops this season, and seemed to fall out of favor with the coaching staff. He started sharing time with Floyd at the "X" receiver position, and his opportunities diminished even further.

"It's tough for me right now," Chambers said before the Oct. 25 game at Kansas City. "I'm rotating a little bit more than I'd like to, but I'll do whatever the coaches ask. I work extremely hard in practice. I work to get open in games, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to make plays thus far."

Chambers could not be reached for comment on Monday afternoon. Chambers didn't hide his disappointment over a reduced role, but he refused to let it distract from the Chargers' offensive goals.

"He was always great in the locker room and focused on staying the course," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "You could tell he was disappointed and trying to battle through it, but there was never any tension there."

In hindsight, the writing was on the wall. Floyd started against Oakland and played the majority of Sunday's game, just a week after Chambers dropped a catchable touchdown pass in Kansas City.

That was a far cry from his performance in 2007, when he was an impact player during the Chargers' run through the playoffs. He had 35 catches for 555 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games after being acquired in trade from Miami for a second-round draft pick.

"He made an impact right away," Rivers said. "He came in and showed why we got him. He made big plays and kept coverages from zeroing in on Gates, and was a major player during that push toward the AFC championship game."

The Chargers will push forward with a different alignment on the active roster. They will carry just four receivers on game day: Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Legedu Naanee and Kassim Osgood, whom Turner said would become more involved in the offense.

"This was an extremely difficult decision," Turner said. "What we did today is, in our minds, what is best for our team over the next two months."

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at 760-739-6642. Go to sportsblogs.nctimes.com for additional Chargers news and notes.