PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : CHARGERS : Ex-WLAF Quarterback is Signed

He drew a locker between the pass rushers and linebackers on the defensive side of the locker room.

He’s sporting a fresh surgical scar on the elbow of his throwing arm, and he found no training-camp takers for his services in the NFL after wrapping up duty in the World League of American Football.

Meet Jeff Graham, the 17th quarterback to join the Chargers since 1986. The Chargers signed Graham to their practice squad.

“I got the call (Tuesday night) about 6 or so,” Graham said. “I’ve been working out recovering from elbow surgery. There were a bunch of bone chips in there and they took out the bursa sac.”

Graham played in 11 games in the WLAF for the New York/New Jersey Knights after failing to make the Redskins’ and Browns’ rosters. He completed 176 of 307 passes with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Knights.

“This is a good opportunity for me,” he said. “It gets me back in the NFL.”

Hello and goodby, Joe Weinberg.

The Chargers’ roster shuffle continued Wednesday with the re-signing of Weinberg, the team’s 11th-round pick from Johnson C. Smith University.

Weinberg was released by the team on Aug. 22. He can expect to be released again Saturday when the team forfeits its roster exemption for running back Marion Butts and places Butts on the active roster.

The Chargers also signed linebacker Andy Katoa, running back Chris Samuels, wide receiver Yancey Thigpen, center Mike Heldt and Graham to their practice squad. Each player will draw at least $3,200 a week in pay, but the players will not be eligible to play on Sundays.

The Chargers will start Harry Swayne at left tackle and rookie Eric Moten at left guard. Leo Goeas has recovered from a knee injury, and he appeared to have the edge on Swayne in training camp, but Coach Dan Henning said Swayne has had more practice repetitions and has played well.

The team is concerned about putting linebacker Billy Ray Smith on artificial turf, but Henning said Smith will play against the Steelers. Smith is coming off a knee injury, but has practiced with the team this week.

Running back Rod Bernstine will start in place of Butts, but Bernstine said there will be no keeping Butts out of the game.

“I’d be shocked if he didn’t play,” Bernstine said. “Right now I’m the starter and I have to continue to go out and do the things I’ve been doing in the preseason.

“Marion’s there, so if it’s a situation where I’m not pounding the ball up in there enough, he can come in and do the job.”