PRO FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : CHARGERS : Kidd Returns to the Team After Death of His Father

Preparing for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks has been difficult for punter John Kidd. His father, Max Kidd, died Wednesday of cancer at the age of 61. On Thursday, John returned to San Diego after spending three days with his family in Findlay, Ohio.

“I feel a little disoriented,” Kidd said. “I haven’t been around all week. I just need to get everything together again for the game.”

John said he and his father were close. John called him nearly every day this season. Max Kidd played high school and college football. He followed John’s athletic career closely, often making the five-hour drive to see his games at Northwestern and the six-hour drive for games in Buffalo when John played for the Bills.

“He followed me as close as any dad ever did in sports,” Kidd said. “He was behind me all the way no matter what I was playing, whether it was football or any other sport.”

John has had trouble thinking about his job since he returned to practice Thursday.

“From one aspect you say: ‘This is the biggest game of the year,’ ” he said. “But there are other things in life that are more important than football. So I think considering what just happened this week I have a pretty good perspective. I think I’ll be fine for the game.”

Nose tackle Les Miller scored the third touchdown of his career in the Chargers’ 31-14 victory Nov. 4 over Seattle when he pounced on a Dave Krieg fumble in the endzone.

Miller, who took over as the starter in late September when Joe Phillips was put on injured reserve after being assaulted in Mission Beach, isn’t predicting another big game Sunday.

“I ain’t saying nothing,” he said, smiling. “I ain’t saying a word. If I say I will, then I won’t see nothing the rest of the year.”

Despite his touchdown, Miller wasn’t satisfied with his performance in that game. In fact, he hasn’t really been happy with his contributions in general.

“I’ve just got to loosen up and play a good game,” he said. “I get pretty tense. I’ve got to learn how to relax and play the game like it’s supposed to be played.”

Nate Lewis, a rookie from Oregon Tech, proved his value as a punt returner in the last game against Seattle when he went 63 yards for a touchdown. Lewis says he enjoys returning punts. That’s fine with running back Darrin Nelson.

Nelson, a nine-year veteran, is the back up punt returner. He used to do this job when he was with the Minnesota Vikings.

“If Nate gets hurt or something, I’ll be back there,” Nelson said. “But I prefer Nate to do it. I did all that stuff when I was a younger player in the league. . . . That’s probably the hardest things to do. A lot of people don’t want to do it. There aren’t a lot of volunteers.”

Coach Dan Henning said all of his players have been cleared to play in Sunday’s game, including quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver (knee) and linebacker Junior Seau (ankle/groin).