Chargers Seeking Some Key Answers : Football: The 49ers, minus Joe Montana, will give San Diego another test in exhibition game.

San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana has a sore elbow, while the Chargers’ have had their feelings bruised.

Montana is expected to recover.

The Chargers will require further tests.

“It’s just hard to tell about this team,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “It’s a tough team to judge right now.”

The Chargers bolstered the Rams’ self-esteem last week with a 24-3 exhibition pratfall in Anaheim. Now they will attempt to right themselves with games in the next five days against the 49ers and Raiders, two teams that combined for a 1990 regular-season mark of 26-6.

“I’m glad we’re finishing with these two teams,” Beathard said. “This will offer us a better opportunity to judge where we are.”

The Chargers, 1-1, will be in Candlestick Park tonight against the 49ers, 3-0. Montana has missed practice most of the week with elbow tendinitis and is expected to watch Steve Young start at quarterback.

The Chargers will counter with Billy Joe Tolliver at quarterback for the first and third quarters.

“I think it’s a big game for us and for me,” Tolliver said. “There are some people around this area that may think this is my last chance. But all I can do is go out and do the things I’ve been coached to do and let the rest take care of itself.”

Tolliver threatened the good Orange County residents last week with a wild-and-high, 15-for-33 performance for 123 yards, including an interception.

There was speculation early last week that the Chargers would start John Friesz against the 49ers, but the team will continue to give the ball to Tolliver.

“I think he’s the starter; that’s what Dan (Henning) feels,” Beathard said. “I think he’s the starter unless there’s a dramatic change.

“I know they need to see more of John and they’re going to do that, but I’d say they’re getting Billy ready right now for the opener.”

Tolliver started the first three exhibition games last year and completed 29 of 54 passes for 374 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. The Chargers went 3-0, including a 29-28 victory over the 49ers.

However, the team started Mark Vlasic in the exhibition finale against the Raiders, and although the Chargers lost, 34-7, they opted to start Vlasic in the regular-season opener against Dallas.

“It’s happened once, so there’s definitely been a precedent set,” Tolliver said. “But I still believe in myself and I still believe in the things I can do.”

Friesz, who has completed 13 of 23 passes for 153 yards with a touchdown, will play the second quarter against the 49ers.

“I need to go out and be consistent on every play,” Friesz said. “Be sharp on every exchange with the running backs and center, just be consistent, that’s what they want here.

“That’s what it will take for us to get going in the right direction is for the quarterback play to be consistent. And so I’m not looking for any big plays or big numbers.”

While Tolliver still has a grip on the No. 1 job, Beathard admitted, “I think it’s up in the air. I don’t think anyone here would tell you it isn’t. But that’s not the only area.”

Where to begin: As Henning said Sunday, the Chargers will start a guy who was in college last year (Stanley Richard) and another guy who was a backup (Anthony Shelton) at safety.

Starting left tackle Leo Goeas still is limping on a knee that recently was surgically repaired, and reserve linebacker Galand Thaxton, who was going to replace starting linebacker Gary Plummer (out with a sore neck), is now expected to undergo knee surgery today.

Linebacker Billy Ray Smith still is unable to practice because of a sore knee, and who needs defensive lineman Lee Williams or running back Marion Butts?

Last season the Chargers climbed from last to first in special teams play, but many of the reserve players who made up those teams will be replaced this year.

“Right now we haven’t had enough guys come up and be special teams players,” Beathard said. “Several guys will make the team or get cut depending on how they do on special teams. That’s an area that will be closely evaluated after this game.

“If a guy wants to make it that’s the easiest way to do it. A guy who really stepped up last week was Darren Carrington. We moved him from safety to corner, and at the same time he opened the eyes of the coaches on special teams.”

The Chargers will have to remove 19 players from their roster Tuesday to reach the NFL’s mandatory 60-player limit. They will cut down to 47 players one week from today.

“No matter where we are when we get this thing together, we’re still going to be a team that has to play a lot better than we are,” Beathard said. “We’ll have to make up the difference through emotion and hard play.”