Chargers’ Jefferson Sits, Waits

After each frustrating defeat, the Chargers somehow have managed to avoid finger pointing.

That trend continued Monday. But it doesn’t necessarily mean everyone is happy.

After catching three passes in his first game, one for a touchdown, and three more in his third game, rookie wide receiver Shawn Jefferson suddenly has become a nonentity.

Meanwhile, Anthony Miller who starts as Jefferson sits, continues to drop crucial passes and run poor routes.

In Sunday’s 14-13 loss to Kansas City, Jefferson was on the field for one play--on special teams.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Jefferson said. “I wish I would have played. I think I could have made something happen out there (Sunday).

“But it’s not for me to say. I’m pretty sure (receivers coach) Charlie Joiner or whoever decided not to play me, I’m pretty sure they had a reason.”

Coach Dan Henning said the reason Jefferson didn’t play was simple.

“Anthony and Nate (Lewis) were healthy,” he said. “They are one and two right now.

“Because of (Jefferson’s) lack of time with us, he’s hesitant on some things because he harks back to the training that he had in Houston.”

Jefferson, acquired from Houston in exchange for Lee Williams before the season, didn’t agree.

“I’m to the point now where I don’t think about every play,” he said. “I feel pretty confident about the plays. If they don’t think I have grasped every play, then put me in on the ones that I know.

“I know I can make a difference. I’ve got a lot of speed. I feel if I get a step on somebody, it’s over.”

In limited action, Jefferson has caught eight passes for 59 yards and run once on a inside reverse for 27 yards. Miller has 12 receptions for 161 yards and two touchdowns, but he acknowledged he has not performed like a two-time Pro Bowl player.

“I’m trying to play hurt,” he said. “It’s not an excuse because I’m a professional. It comes down to, the ball hits you in the hands, you ought to catch it.

“If I dropped two balls (Sunday) and we were winning, nothing would have been said.”

But one of the drops, a seven-yard sideline pass, occured on the Chargers’ final drive.

Henning did not blame Miller for all the Chargers’ passing woes, but he didn’t ignore Miller’s continuing problems either.

“I don’t think it’s Anthony Miller in particular, but Anthony Miller is struggling,” he said. “The explanations range from injuries to not practicing. But you have to catch the ball and run the routes.

“Whatever the reason is, he’s not playing at the same level he did two years ago or into the first part of last year. For us to be more successful, Anthony Miller and people like him are going to have to do a better job.”

And if they don’t?

“If that’s the type of thing that’s going to happen when (Miller) doesn’t practice, then we’ll have to take a different approach,” Henning said.

“The bottom line is, we have to get Anthony healthy and get him to play at a higher level than he’s playing now.”

Whenever Henning decides to make a change, Jefferson says he is ready.

“Maybe they feel they don’t need to make a change,” he said. “But they’ll never get a chance to see what I can do if they don’t give me a chance.”

General Manager Bobby Beathard reiterated that Henning will be the Chargers’ coach through the season.

“We’re going to go with Dan and we’ll evaluate everything at the end of the season,” Beathard said.

Owner Alex Spanos was unavailable for comment.

Henning said quarterback John Friesz, who has completed 46% of his 150 passes for four touchdowns and five interceptions, has played close to his expectations.

“My expectations of John Friesz going into this season aren’t that he was going to carry us to victory,” he said. “My expectations are that he would not carry us to defeat. And under certain conditions that he could carry us to victory.

“At this point, he doesn’t make certain reads. But he’s playing about the way I would have expected.”