McMahon to Start for Chargers After Tolliver’s Weak Debut

The San Diego Chargers will go back to veteran Jim McMahon as their starting quarterback after rookie Billy Joe Tolliver’s unimpressive debut last weekend.

Coach Dan Henning announced Wednesday that while Tolliver is probably their quarterback of the future, the coach now has his floundering club’s current 2-6 record to worry about.

“It gives us the best chance right now,” Henning said of the switch to McMahon. “We’ll try to get the other guy some more work down the road and find out more about him.”

Tolliver, a second-round draft choice from Texas Tech, was given his first regular season start last Sunday in Seattle but only threw for 41 yards in three quarters before being replaced by McMahon, who had been benched after the Chargers lost three consecutive games.

McMahon threw a touchdown pass that gave the Chargers the lead 7-3 with 1:53 to play, but the Seahawks rallied for a touchdown on the final drive and won 10-7.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Chiefs Coach Marty Schottenheimer has switched horses, too, with newcomer Steve Pelluer as the starting quarterback Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I made the decision right before practice,” Schottenheimer said after the team’s workout Wednesday. “One thing that I wanted to make sure of was that his thumb was OK.”

Pelluer injured in thumb two weeks ago in the game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.

Schottenheimer informed the quarterbacks and during the practice Pelluer worked every play with the offensive team. Steve DeBerg, who had started five games this season, split time with rookie Mike Elkins running the scout team.

In five starts under DeBerg, the Chiefs are 2-3. On Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs had the ball inside the Steelers’ 20 four times in the second half and failed to score.