CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Kansas City Might Have Gotten Best of Chargers

One man’s opinion: In looking for background information on the Chiefs, Kansas City Star reporter Kent Pulliam was asked what’s new with the team he’s covering.

“Well,” he said, “the best Charger quarterback is on this team’s roster.”

And some people think the reporters in San Diego are tough.

Mark Vlasic, who was left unprotected by the Chargers in Plan B free agency this past off-season, signed with the Chiefs and is now working as Steve DeBerg’s backup.

Vlasic has yet to make an appearance in regular-season play, but during the exhibition season he completed 27 of 35 passes for 331 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He had a quarterback rating of 143.8, which would presently rank him No. 1 in the NFL.

John Friesz’s quarterback ranking is 57.0, which places him 27th in the league.

Only New Orleans and Philadelphia have surrendered fewer points than Kansas City (50), but then the Chiefs have scored only 51 points in going 2-2 to open the season.

Kansas City has failed to score a point this season in first-quarter play, and have scored a total of only 17 points in first-half action.

“I don’t think Kansas City is a great football team,” Charger Coach Dan Henning said. “I think they have some outstanding players in key positions, and I think they’re well-coached. They’re playing football in the last year and a half as if they are a good football team, and that’s part of it.

“They haven’t been as good as they were last year, but they are certainly a good, sound football team.”

Last year the Chiefs finished 11-5 and advanced as a wild-card entrant to the playoffs, where they lost to Miami, 17-16.

Linebacker Billy Ray Smith, who has been one of this team’s top performers in the past, has become a backup.

“Billy’s got to fight his way back through Henry (Rolling),” Henning said. “For the lack of a better term right now he’s become a utility player . . . If the others are playing well, he’ll probably see very little action.”

Smith has been hobbled by a sore knee, and it has kept him from seriously challenging for more playing time. He has been working on special teams, but has not earned steady duty on defense.

Pro Bowl cornerback Albert Lewis has missed the last three games with a knee injury, which he suffered after recording his third interception in the season opener against Atlanta. Wide receiver Stephone Paige, who has made a career of beating Charger defensive backs, has missed the past two games with a knee injury.

The status of Lewis and Paige for this week’s game will be announced today.