PRO FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : CHARGERS : Byrd Slowed by Ankle Injury

Cornerback Gill Byrd said there was no reason for him to be listed on the team’s weekly injury report as questionable with a groin pull.

“Now it’s an ankle,” Byrd said after suffering a sprain in Thursday’s practice. “I don’t know how bad it is, but it’s real sore now.”

Byrd finished Thursday’s practice, but after standing on the sideline while the offense went through its drills, he said it started aching and becoming harder to walk on.

“I don’t know how severe it is,” Byrd said. “I think it’s going to be a day-to-day thing. We run practice on the turf (today), so that’s not going to help it any, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Byrd leads the AFC with five interceptions.

The Chargers have not listed starting right offensive tackle Broderick Thompson on their injury report, although he has been unable to practice this week because of an ankle injury.

“He should be on there, definitely should be on there,” Coach Dan Henning said. “He’s questionable. I think the likelihood is pretty good (he’ll be playing Sunday).”

Tackle Joel Patten took Thompson’s place on the right side in practice Thursday.

Safeties Vencie Glenn (hamstring) and Martin Bayless (calf) also are listed as questionable, but both practiced without difficulty Thursday.

Linebacker Billy Ray Smith, although acknowledging that his replacement, Henry Rolling, has been playing well in his absence, said he’s ready to compete again for playing time.

“Years with the team may do you a little bit of good, but in the end they are going to go with the guy who can get the job done,” Smith said. “It’s all up to the coaches.”

Smith said he was in on about 25% of the plays in practice Thursday. “It feels fine,” Smith said. “I’m not running out there going ‘stomach, stomach, stomach.’ If it doesn’t bother me I really don’t think about it.”