The Chargers were not successful in at least one area last night: remaining free of injury.
Return specialist Darren Sproles injured his left ankle with 3:21 remaining in the first quarter of the Chargers' 17-3 victory over Green Bay and was taken off the field on a cart. Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Sproles suffered a high ankle sprain but said it “would be premature” to say how serious the injury might be or how long Sproles might be sidelined.
Sproles, who as a rookie last season ranked fourth in the NFL with 63 kickoff returns (24.3-yard average), was hurt when he was tackled by Green Bay's Noah Herron on a punt return.
If Sproles were to be out for any length of time, wide receiver Eric Parker likely would replace him on punts; Parker has returned 68 punts the last three seasons for an 8.1-yard average. Among the options on kickoffs would be running back Michael Turner and No. 1 draft choice Antonio Cromartie.
Last night, with Parker among six Chargers starters not playing, rookie Cletis Gordon replaced Sproles on punts, and Gordon and Turner were the deep men on kickoffs.
Sproles was not the only player injured last night. Chargers rookie tackle Jeromey Clary, a sixth-round draft choice, needed help walking off the field after injuring his right ankle midway through the third quarter.
Earlier, on the Chargers' third play from scrimmage, Packers safety Marviel Underwood injured his right knee while being blocked by center Nick Hardwick. Underwood, a second-year player from San Diego State, had to be helped from the field.
Injuries were not limited to the players, either. Back judge Don Dorkowski was hit from behind near the end of a punt return and injured his right knee and ankle.
Nuts 'n' Bolts
Schottenheimer was positive regarding the Chargers' overall performance, with one exception: penalties. “We had eight penalties for (68) yards and that's going to end up getting you if you don't solve it,” he said. “It's annoying the heck out of me.”
In addition to Parker, other starters not playing for the Chargers were LaDainian Tomlinson, Lorenzo Neal, Roman Oben, Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey. Antonio Gates was in for only a handful of plays, but Ryan Krause filled in at tight end and led the team with six catches and 64 yards.
Cromartie missed a tackle on his first play and was beaten for a 28-yard reception by Robert Ferguson, but he went high for an interception with 10:30 to play in the fourth quarter. Cromartie dunked the ball over the crossbar (with ease), then retrieved the ball and carried it to the bench.
In the kicking game, rookie specialist Kurt Smith reached the end zone on both of his kickoffs. Nate Kaeding was given the first two kickoffs and reached the 5-yard line on the first and the 7 on the second. Coverage was good on all four kicks. Punter Mike Scifres boomed punts of 59 and 58 yards.
Two other former SDSU standouts had better luck than Underwood in their return to Qualcomm: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila made a sack for Green Bay, and Chargers rookie Robert Ortiz caught a 14-yard pass.
Jason Hirsh, the Houston pitcher beaten by the Padres last night in his major league debut, works on the Chargers' sideline during home games once baseball season concludes. Hirsh serves as a runner, shuttling pictures taken in the press box from the sideline printer to the appropriate position coach. His girlfriend is a cousin of Brian Duddy, the Chargers' director of video operations.
It's exhibition season for the stadium operations team as well. Before the game, while the Chargers offense was being introduced, the air began going out of the inflatable helmet the players run through on their way to the field. Then, after Greg Camarillo made a tackle on a kickoff, the video screen operator displayed a picture of Reche Caldwell, who wore Camarillo's No. 82 last season.
Jay Posner: (619) 293-1834; jay.posner@uniontrib.com
