CHARGER NOTEBOOK : Early Returns, Only to Find Walker

SAN DIEGO —  While Wayne Walker basks in the surprising glory of first-string status, Quinn Early can only look to next year.

It’s a tale of two Charger wide receivers, and a most unlikely one. When the season began, Early teamed with Anthony Miller to form one of the most dangerous pass-catching combinations in the National Football League. Now he is on injured reserve, and Walker, a junior-sized rookie who wasn’t even drafted, has taken over his position.

Early may be activated for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs in Kansas City after being out with a knee injury since Oct. 1. But with only two games left, he knows he won’t have time to get back into the starting lineup.

“It’s very frustrating,” Early said Wednesday. “It’s like a lost season. I’ll just have to rationalize and make the most of what playing time I get in the last two games.”

Walker is still in the clouds after catching seven passes for 105 yards and his first pro touchdown against the Redskins in Washington last Sunday. He has 23 receptions for 371 yards.

“That really boosted my confidence,” Walker said. “I needed a game like that to feel sure of myself.

“Of course, my first touchdown catch meant a lot to me, and I spiked the ball. I really didn’t mean to spike it, but I was so excited. Fortunately, I got the ball back.”

It probably is no coincidence that Walker’s emergence as a regular, after a period of backing up Jamie Holland, has occurred since his ex-college teammate, Billy Joe Tolliver, replaced Jim McMahon at quarterback. In fact, Walker wouldn’t have become a Charger in the first place if it hadn’t been for Tolliver.

Walker was Tolliver’s favorite target at Texas Tech but tore up a knee early in his senior year, so the pro scouts ignored him in the draft.

“When I had to go free agent, I thought I’d probably sign with Detroit or Tampa Bay,” Walker said. “Then when Billy Joe got drafted here, he told the front office people about me. I said, ‘Hey, he’s been with me four years. I’m going out there with him.”

Now, even at only 5-feet-8 and 162 pounds, Walker poses a big challenge to Early for next year.

“I guess God had something else in mind for me this season,” Early said. “I’m not really worrying now about getting my job back. I’ll just do what I can and worry about starting from scratch in 1990.”

Coach Dan Henning said whether Early would be activated Sunday would depend on the availability of three injured defensive players--cornerback Sam Seale, end George Hinkle and linebacker David Brandon. All are listed as questionable with hamstring problems.

Placing H-back Joe Caravello on injured reserve--he had knee surgery last week--will open a roster spot, but Henning said it would go to defensive end Gerald Robinson if Seale, Hinkle or Brandon can’t play. Robinson has been on injured reserve since the opening game because of a knee injury.

The only other Charger reported injured is offensive tackle Joel Patten, probable with a sore hand.

Having already assured themselves of an early choice in the 1990 draft--they rank third in that race at the moment--the Chargers have derived further consolation for their dismal season by clinching last place in the AFC West.

This will give them the advantageous fifth-place schedule, which will include two games against the New York Jets or New England and one each against Dallas and Tampa Bay, plus Detroit or Chicago. Their other opponents outside their division will be the four members of the AFC Central.

Seattle could tie San Diego for the cellar, but the Chargers would “win” the tiebreaker because they lost to the Seahawks twice.

Henning gave the Chargers a rare day off Wednesday, making it three days in a row without practice.

“They’re kind of banged up, and they need a little respite both physically and psychologically,” Henning said. “We’ve got a little extra time Saturday morning before going east.”

Told of this on a conference call, Kansas City quarterback Steve DeBerg said, “Oh yeah? I guess that’s so they can do some Christmas shopping.”

To which a San Diego writer remarked, “Yeah, they’re going to be Christmas shopping for jobs.”

Charger Notes

The Chiefs may be without tight end Jonathon Hayes Sunday because of a knee injury. He is listed as questionable. Punter Kelly Goodburn (knee) is probable. . . . Despite the Chiefs’ recent surge into playoff contention, about 30,000 tickets remain unsold. This prompted quarterback Steve DeBerg to say, “It seems strange to me, since it’s our last home game unless we make the playoffs. The public doesn’t seem quite sold on us yet.”