Cornish Probably Back in Lineup After Injury to Hall

As a rookie, Frank Cornish started all 16 games at center for the Chargers.

In his second season, he has sat and waited. Now, it appears, he’ll serve.

Cornish was moved out of the center position--and out of the lineup--when Courtney Hall was shifted from left guard in training camp. Hall, who has a knee injury and hasn’t practiced this week, probably won’t play Sunday when the Chargers play host to the Seahawks. Cornish has been taking snaps with the first team this week and was surprised when his locker was surrounded by reporters after Wednesday’s practice.

“I’m actually being interviewed after 10 weeks?” he asked with mock frustration.

In reality, Cornish is taking the move in stride--and with a grain of salt. After all, Hall is listed as doubtful but is still active.

“My job is to practice and be ready. If (Hall) plays I resume the role. In terms of game experience I am a little bit rusty but I’ll be excited to get back out there. I don’t see anything being that difficult. I had 16 starts--I have been on a field before,” Cornish said with a smile.

Charger Coach Dan Henning made it clear Wednesday that his Sunday game plan involves Cornish, a 6-foot-4, 295-pounder. “We expect fairly quickly he’ll get back to the level he was at after 16 games, which was pretty good,” Henning said. “We’ve been working on giving him different counts and different things. He has a stoutness, much like Courtney, though he’s probably not as quick as Courtney. He’s a tough, savvy, no-nonsense type of guy.”

Cornish said he was taken aback when he lost his job, but said Hall had the inside track from the time Cornish sprained an ankle in minicamp and couldn’t compete.

“I figured if I wasn’t productive last year they’d let me go,” he said. “With the sprained ankle I couldn’t push for the job. The writing was on the wall, so then I was concentrating on making the team.”

After being a starter his entire career, Cornish said his new role has taken some adjusting, but he has tried. “You’ve got to refocus your goals when you find you’re gonna be a backup,” he said. “You’ve got to support the guys as much as you can and wait for a shot. It’s definitely (tough). I don’t think I learned anymore being a backup. They pay you to win games, not win practice.”

But Henning seems pleased with Cornish’s attitude. “Whenever you have an injury you have a type you like to expect in there. Frank is the type,” he said.

Cornish hasn’t taken a snap in a game this year, though he continues to practice at center. He said he’ll try to avoid mental errors. “I hope I play like I was in the 16th game (last year),” he said. “I’m preparing this week as though I am (starting). I have to prepare myself every week as though I am. If you’re not (prepared), you don’t have a use for even being out there.”

Hall’s injury has had a ripple effect on special teams as well, with coaches auditioning several players in different positions preparing for Sunday. Mike Zandofsky and Harry Swayne will be filling in on field-goal and extra-point protection. “We’re practicing a lot of people in a lot of positions,” Henning said.

Injury update: Hall is the only Charger listed as doubtful, with safety Anthony Shelton (injured shoulder) and linebacker Gary Plummer (broken thumb) probable. Shelton practiced Wednesday without pads, but Henning said he wants to see Shelton in contact drills before making a decision. Rookie tight end Duane Young, on injured reserve all season, probably will be activated in recently released Arthur Cox’s spot, but Henning said they won’t decide until after practice Friday.

Seattle, which had a spate of early-season health problems, has no injuries listed.

Former San Diego State star Dan McGwire returns to town as a rookie quarterback for the Seahawks, for whom his progress has been slow despite the absence of starter Dave Krieg for the season’s first seven games.

McGwire, the Seahawks’ No. 1 draft choice last spring, has thrown seven times this year, completing three for 27 yards. He’s the team’s third-stringer behind Krieg and Kelly Stouffer.

“The mental part has been tough, especially (facing) nickel packages,” McGwire said by phone Wednesday.