Express Plays on Astrodome Double Bill Tonight : Young, Coming Back From Knee Injury, Is Expected to Start Against Gamblers

Barring an extra-inning baseball game today, the Los Angeles Express will meet the Houston Gamblers at about 6:30 p.m. PST in the Astrodome.

At about 6:30?

Only in the United States Football League.

The Express (1-6) and Gamblers (5-2) will play in the second half of a baseball-football doubleheader. During the day, it will be Nolan Ryan of the Astros pitching against Steve Carlton of the Phillies.

And what if the game goes extra innings? Will the Astros and Phillies have to finish on some other field?

In the 12th inning, will quarterback Jim Kelly of the Gamblers walk out to the mound and tell Carlton to get lost? Maybe he’ll break it to him gently, saying something like: “Sorry Steve, I know you’re pitching a great game, but we’ve got the field reserved at 6:30.”

No. In fact, the Express and Gamblers will have to wait. If the baseball game goes 15 innings, the football teams will have to wait even longer.

If that happens, will this game be worth the wait?

The Gamblers, with the talented Kelly operating the run-and-shoot offense, have lost two straight games since winning their first five. Lately, Houston’s offense has been more limp-and-shoot.

The Gamblers’ top two receivers, Richard Johnson and Ricky Sanders, didn’t play in last week’s 31-25 loss to the New Jersey Generals.

Sanders, out with a ligament injury in his left knee, won’t play today. Johnson is suffering from a pulled hamstring but is expected to play.

Kelly, who has thrown for 2,652 yards and 23 touchdowns in seven games this season, dislocated the ring finger on his throwing hand in last week’s defeat. He also has a bruised knee but is expected to play.

The Express can only hope that Kelly isn’t at full strength. His performance in the season opener against Los Angeles set the tone for what has been a miserable season for the Express.

Kelly passed for 574 yards and five touchdowns in a 34-33 win over at the Coliseum Feb. 24. The Express led, 33-13, with 9:47 remaining, when Kelly rallied the Gamblers on touchdown drives that took 53, 69 and 40 seconds, respectively.

The Express, the team with plenty of talent, seemingly never recovered.

“That had somewhat of a negative effect,” Express Coach John Hadl said of the opening loss.

Hadl, finally, gets some good news this week. Quarterback Steve Young, who has missed two games with a hyper-extended knee, is expected to start today. Young, who injured the knee against Arizona March 23, will be wearing a special brace. The device will allow Young only 90% extension of his left leg.

Young practiced with the team all last week but still isn’t completely healthy. However, the Express can’t afford another game without him. The team has lost three straight and needs a win to keep any playoff hopes alive.

“If he has any problems, we’ll take him out,” Hadl said. “It’s as simple as that.”

The move is somewhat of a gamble because the Express offensive line is still plagued with injuries. All-USFL tackle Gary Zimmerman is out with a bad shoulder. Tackle Jeff Hart is out with a knee injury. Tackle Mark Adickes will play with a sore knee. Center Mike Ruether will play with a sore elbow.

And there’s this note for faithful Express fans: Last season, the Express came into Houston with a 3-6 record, then defeated the Gamblers, 27-24, in overtime and went on to win the Pacific Division title.

Express Notes Tonight’s game will be aired live on radio stations KPZE (1190), KWNK (670) and KWRM (1370). . . . Is Steve Young ready to play? “We had to pull him off the taping table before last week’s game,” Coach John Hadl said. “It’s going to be a mental thing with him. He’s never been hurt before. He’s got to get through the fact that he can play with it.” Hadl, on the team’s playoff chances: “If we can win two in a row, we’d be 3-6 and in the same position we were last season. We can make a run because everyone keeps getting beat.” Eight of the league’s 14 teams gain the playoffs--the two conference winners, the two conference runners-up and four wild-card teams. . . . There is one advantage to being the coach of the Express. The team has no owner, and therefore, Hadl’s job seems safe for now. “Until we get an owner, we’re kind of in a limbo deal,” Hadl said. “You wouldn’t gain anything by firing the coaching staff now with everything else that has been going on.” . . . Jim Kelly’s record against the Express: In his two career appearances against L.A., Kelly has completed 72 of 104 passes for 954 yards and 7 touchdowns.