O’Neal Injury Adds to Chargers’ Woes

The loss of defensive lineman Leslie O’Neal, who will undergo knee surgery today and may not be able to play again until 1988, deprives the Chargers of an athlete who was more than a strong rookie of the year candidate.

O’Neal, who was injured in Sunday’s 17-3 victory over Indianapolis, had the potential to become one of pro football’s most dominant defensive players. He was the cornerstone of the team’s hope for quickly becoming a playoff contender via a strong defense.

But after suffering tears of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments in the left knee, he faces a year of recuperation. If he isn’t ready until the 13th game of the 1987 season, the Chargers might hold him out until 1988, according to Coach Al Saunders.

“He was our biggest impact player this year and for the future,” the coach said. “His injury gives us a need in an area we had totally solidified. He was a dominant pass rusher and was in line for rookie of the year.”

O’Neal, who was the eighth player selected in the 1986 draft, had made a team-high 12.5 sacks, was second on the team with 82 tackles, forced 3 fumbles, made 2 interceptions and knocked down 6 passes.

If there was to be a quick fix for a team that is 3-10, the defense was the ticket, as Saunders had recently said in a consideration of the Chargers’ future. O’Neal was the focal point of a defense that had been reshaped into an aggressive, penetrating unit and had become the league’s most improved in pressuring quarterbacks.

The Chargers, with 47 sacks, were tied for the league lead entering the season’s 13th weekend. They now rank second with 50 sacks, five fewer than the Raiders.

O’Neal’s loss reduces what had been the Chargers’ strongest area to the level of ordinary, and forces the organization to reassess its draft needs for next year, according to Saunders.

In short, O’Neal’s injury is nothing short of catastrophic in terms of its impact on a short-term rebuilding program.

Suddenly, a 3-10 team with some promise becomes just another 3-10 team, with major needs in nearly every area and no clear area of potential dominance.

“Realistically, we have to face the possibility of not having Leslie next year,” Saunders said Monday.

“This (the defensive line) now becomes an area that is not as solid as it was two days ago. We had previously identified linebacker, the secondary, running back and wide receiver as areas we would like to strengthen. Now we also have to look for defensive line help.”

The problem in the defensive line is complicated by the condition of rookie Terry Unrein, who faces postseason surgery for ligament damage. He must have a synthetic ligament inserted in his left knee and faces six to nine months of rehabilitation.

Unrein is able to play the rest of the year, but the Chargers still must fill O’Neal’s spot. For the short term, they will look at Mack Moore, Lester Williams or Tony Simmons, but none of those players is viewed as more than an emergency patch.

“We’ve suffered a setback and an obstacle we have to overcome,” Saunders said. “It’s not realistic to say we can immediately get another player of Leslie’s ability. He was a highly heralded player who had more than lived up to all our expectations.”

Defensive coordinator Ron Lynn compared O’Neal to Denver’s Karl Mecklenburg in terms of versatility and ability to influence a game.

“I believe he had the capability to become the most dominant defensive player in the National Football League,” Lynn said. “He’s like Mecklenburg, only with more ability.

“There couldn’t have been anyone in the league having more of an impact on his team than Leslie had on the Chargers. There couldn’t be a rookie having a better season than he was having as far as playing the run, pass, or whatever.”

Lynn made no effort to downplay the significance of O’Neal’s absence, but he expressed guarded optimism about an early return next season.

“Losing him has implications for our plans for next year, and also leaves the question about how successful a comeback he can make,” Lynn said. “On the other hand, I would never bet against this guy. Leslie is different. He is special. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t beat the projected timetable for his recovery.”

O’Neal’s injury is similar to the one suffered by tight end Kellen Winslow against the Raiders on Oct. 21, 1984. Winslow didn’t return until Oct. 20, 1985, and, it should be added, has never returned to the form that made him the game’s most dominant tight end.

O’Neal was not wearing a protective knee brace when he was hurt. The club encourages, but does not require, its players to wear the braces, which are believed to reduce the severity of some knee injuries.

The NFL does not require players to wear knee braces. Individual clubs, fearing the possibility of lawsuits, do not make it mandatory to use equipment not prescribed by the league, Saunders said.

Dr. Gary Losse, who will perform O’Neal’s surgery, declined to speculate on whether a brace might have reduced the severity of the player’s injury.

O’Neal was hurt when his foot was caught in the artificial turf as he collided with linebacker Woody Lowe early in Sunday’s game in the Hoosier Dome.

O’Neal said he had worn knee braces earlier this year but had stopped a few weeks ago and might not wear them when he returns to action next year, or the following season.

There was no diminishing the severity of the blow represented by O’Neal’s injury.

Defensive line coach Gunther Cunningham said the loss of O’Neal was “the worst thing that has happened to me in my coaching career.”

Lynn chose to be slightly more optimistic.

“There will be some slack,” he said, “but we have to find a way to get everyone else to play above their heads.”

Charger Notes

Leslie O’Neal was not the only important player hurt Sunday. Offensive lineman Jim Lachey suffered a pulled hamstring and is questionable for this week’s game against Dallas. He would be replaced in the starting lineup by Ken Dallafior. . . . Cornerback Gill Byrd also is questionable because of a groin injury.