Charger Notebook : Winslow, Redden Not Yet Ready to Practice; O’Neal Also Fails Physical, as Expected

Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow and two other players, running back Barry Redden and defensive end Leslie O’Neal, failed their first physicals Saturday, so the Chargers’ first practice with the veterans went on without them.

Neither Redden, who pulled a hamstring last week, nor O’Neal, who hasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury he sustained almost two years ago, was expected to be ready Saturday.

But word that Winslow wasn’t ready to go was surprising to some, including Coach Al Saunders, who said he had expected that Winslow would be fit after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee June 6.

But Winslow said he would have been shocked if he had been able to pass the physical Saturday, because his knee hasn’t come around yet.

“It’s really nothing to worry about,” Winslow said. “I’m just not quite where I want to be. Last year I had my knee scoped before training camp, and I rushed it a little coming back.”

Winslow said he expects to be ready to take the physical again in about a week.

“Of course we’d like to have him right away,” Saunders said. “But we want him healthy. We’ll look forward to having him next week.”

Redden also is expected back in about a week. But when O’Neal will return, nobody knows.

O’Neal, the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 1986, hasn’t played since Nov. 30 of that year, when he severely injured his knee in a game against Indianapolis.

“We were disappointed that Leslie didn’t pass his physical, but it was to be expected,” Saunders said. “All along, we’ve felt it would be a big boost if he was able to practice, but realistically, not too many people felt he’d be able to.”

The swelling on O’Neal’s knee hasn’t gone down enough, Saunders said, and it isn’t certain when he will be able to return.

“I don’t think it’s a day-to-day type of thing,” Saunders said. “I think it’s going to be a while.”

The Chargers signed nose tackle Chuck Ehin Saturday, leaving six players unsigned.

Ehin, who is in his sixth year from Brigham Young, started 4 of the last 5 games last season, when the Chargers went with a 4-3 front on defense. He has started 28 games over the past three seasons.

The six players remaining unsigned: Chip Banks, Mike Charles, Lee Williams, Joe Phillips, Curtis Adams and Thomas Benson.

Charles and Benson were at practice Saturday in street clothes.

In a way, Saturday marked the official beginning of quarterback Dan Fouts’ retirement. For the first time since 1972, Fouts wasn’t in camp when the veterans began practice. He announced his retirement March 24.

Wes Chandler, who was traded to the 49ers in the off-season, was absent for the first time in nine years.

“Every year there are people you wish you could get back here or people you wish you could get back in their prime and get them back here,” Saunders said.

As is the custom on the veterans’ first day of practice, rookies had to sing their college fight songs at dinner.

Wide receiver Quinn Early of Iowa was first up Saturday night. He sang the University of Iowa song while wearing a UCLA T-shirt.