PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : CHARGERS : After Week Off, Nelson Back To Work

Charger Coach Dan Henning kept his promise to veteran running back Darrin Nelson and returned him to the roster Wednesday.

Defensive end Gerald Robinson developed the same sort of opportune, last-second injury (knee) that sidelined quarterback John Friesz (shoulder) a week ago. Robinson was placed on injured reserve, making room for Nelson.

Nelson, released in the final cut Sept. 3, was told by Henning he would be brought back after the first or second game.

“There are going to be times when we lean toward more experienced guys,” Henning said. “He fits a lot of needs.”

Nelson, a nine-year veteran who will be used in third-down situations and as a backup punt returner, had the good fortune of not only missing Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Cowboys but also skipping the telecast.

How about the video tape?

“I don’t think I want to watch it,” Nelson said.

Nelson, 31, was signed to a one-year contract, General Manager Bobby Beathard said.

Beathard can’t block, tackle or pass, but football’s best known surfer can sure sell those season tickets.

For the first time since San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium was expanded in 1984, the Chargers announced an increase in season ticket sales. The club said it has sold 40,026 after dropping to 38,124 a year ago.

Jack Teele, assistant to team President Alex G. Spanos, pointed to the hiring of Beathard as one of the main reasons for the 5% increase.

While sales are up, it won’t be enough to put the Chargers on television Sunday for their home opener against Cincinnati.

“Not unless somebody with an awful lot of bucks comes along,” Teele said. “We’ll distribute 50,000 tickets and are expecting an in-house crowd of 46,000-47,000.”

The team would have to distribute about 60,000 by this afternoon to lift the television blackout.

Mike Withycombe, a third-year tackle acquired by the Chargers Tuesday off waivers from the Jets, is glad to be out of New York. A California native who went to Fresno State, Withycombe didn’t find the East Coast to his liking.

“Nobody smiles,” he said. “Nobody wants to talk to you, because they think you’re going to get them to let down a little, and they think you’re going to crack their skull and take your wallet or something.”

The only plans of that nature Withycombe has here are to crack the starting lineup and take the left tackle position from Eric Floyd.

“My spirits are definitely raised,” he said. “I’ve just got to prove myself.”

Because tackle Leo Goeas (foot) is doubtful for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati, Withycombe may get his chance this weekend.

In a conference call Wednesday morning, Bengal Coach Sam Wyche declared it was nearly impossible to practice defending the no-huddle offense, which Cincinnati uses.

Asked about it, Henning responded: “It seems like a strange statement to make. To my knowledge, the first time I saw one was 32 years ago. Nobody huddles in the two-minute offense. No players leave the field, and everybody goes to work. I don’t know what he’s trying to get at.”

Next question. What worries you most about the Bengals?

Henning: “Their no-huddle offense.”

The Chargers apparently aren’t the only ones who feel badly about their 17-14 loss to Dallas.

“It’s the worst thing that could have happened to us,” Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason groaned. “I guess they had a team meeting with the coaches out of the room and are probably really disgusted that they lost to Dallas, and now we’re going to bear the brunt of that.”

Pity the poor 1-0 Bengals.

“A team that has been whipped by somebody that they think they should have beaten,” Wyche said, “generally does all the little things like getting mad at themselves, calling a team meeting and emptying the room of coaches. Then they have their rally cry that they’re going to come back and play better. So you catch a team fired up rather than down.”

How about another fake punt? It wouldn’t surprise Wyche, who says there would be no better time to use it than this Sunday. “He’s right,” Henning said. “I wouldn’t be surprised myself.” . . . Injuries: for the Chargers, Leo Goeas (foot) is doubtful, tight end Arthur Cox (lower back) and running back Jerry Mays (knee) are questionable for Sunday’s game. The Bengals have no significant injuries . . . Charger defensive end Burt Grossman, who gave his opinions on everything from Roseanne Barr’s rendition of the national anthem to teammate Lee Williams’ snoring during training camp, is now taking the fifth on all questions, football related or otherwise. Wednesday, he talked only to say, “I’m not talking.”