Plummer May Miss Game Against 49ers

The injury-riddled Chargers, already stung by the loss of linebacker Billy Ray Smith (hairline fracture of the right leg) for the season, might have to face the 49ers Sunday without inside linebacker Gary Plummer, the team’s leading tackler each of the last 4 games.

Plummer, who injured a hip flexor muscle during practice on Thanksgiving, was unable to practice Friday and is listed as doubtful for the game at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Charger Coach Al Saunders said Jeff Jackson, activated this week, will replace Plummer in the lineup if he is unable to play.

Plummer said the problem was an aggravation of an injury that has bothered him for a long time. He said fatigue and the chill in Thursday’s air probably helped contribute to his latest pains.

“If it’s up to me, I’ll play,” Plummer said. “But what your mind says and your body says are two different things. Whether I can play on Sunday just depends on how I feel when I go out for warmups.

“The thing that’s really bad is that Billy Ray’s out, and we’re very thin at linebacker. If in fact I don’t play and one of the other guys gets hurt, then there’s no one else basically.”

Saunders also reported Friday that quarterback Mark Vlasic’s knee surgery “went well.” Vlasic injured the knee Sunday in the Chargers’ 38-24 upset of the Rams. He will miss the remainder of the season.