CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Marquez Pope Added to Roster to Replace Injured Blaylock
SAN DIEGO — The Chargers will add cornerback Marquez Pope, the team’s second-round draft pick, to the roster to compensate for the loss of cornerback Tony Blaylock.
Blaylock suffered a serious ankle injury in practice this week and might go on injured reserve. The team is also considering placing defensive lineman Reggie White on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
“Reggie White has had shoulder problems and he re-injured it this week,” Coach Bobby Ross said. “We had a (magnetic resonance imaging test) on it this week and we’re waiting for the results.”
The Chargers had high hopes for Pope when training camp began, but Pope was making the transition from safety to corner. A virus shortly before the regular season sapped his strength and forced him to go on injured reserve.
“He’s (Pope) in a backup capacity and right now he’s prepared to play,” Ross said. “He’s one play away from playing if somebody get hurt.”
Sean Vanhorse will make his first start of the season at corner in place of Blaylock.
“I think they’ll test him very early,” Ross said. “The reaction will be: ‘Let’s see what he can do?’ They haven’t seen him out in that position.”
Quarterback Stan Humphries was wearing a pad on the knee that required medical attention at halftime of last week’s game with Indianapolis, but he practiced without problems Friday.
“I’d say Stan is at 100%,” Ross said.
Running back Eric Bieniemy, however, continues to be bothered by a sore ankle. Wide receiver Nate Lewis will start in place and return punts.
“Eric is still questionable going into the game,” Ross said. “I don’t think Eric is going to be at 100%, so we might try and save him for an offensive play and use Nate back there to return punts.”
Lewis returned a 63-yard punt for a touchdown against Seattle in 1990 and has one punt return this year for 16 yards.
Marion Butts has been bothered by a sore knee much of this season, but Ross said he appears to be at 100% for the Chiefs’ Sunday.
“He took some good blows on it (knee) and he’s fine,” Ross said. “He’s going to have to be a workhorse for us. He’s going to be a big factor in the football game.”
The Chargers are expected to be confronted by chilly conditions in Kansas City, and that’s fine with Ross.
“Personally, I like it,” he said, “but I’m not playing. I think it will be good.”
Ross said he has been advised that the game-time temperature will be 40 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a possibility of snow flurries or a mild rain.
“That covers about everything,” Ross said.
