Chargers’ Painful Year Continues to Worsen : Pro football: Seven players might be forced to miss the game Sunday against the Raiders because of injuries.

The Chargers’ disastrous season got even worse Monday.

They learned that seven players might miss Sunday night’s game here against the Raiders, and that two of them, right tackle Harry Swayne and strong safety Anthony Shelton, are probably gone for the season.

Just how bleak is the injury situation?

“I don’t think we’ll be able to field (a 45-man roster),” Henning said. “The object is to field 11 at a time and have them get the job done. That will mean that some guys will do double duty.”

A list of the wounded:

Quarterback John Friesz still was limping on a left ankle sprained late in the first half of Sunday’s 24-3 loss to the Jets. The injury came as Friesz was sacked by cornerback Erik McMillan.

Henning said McMillan came in unblocked.

“Nate (Lewis) has got to break off his pattern and John has to see it,” Henning said. “McMillan timed his blitz just right.”

Another of Sunday’s wounded, cornerback Gill Byrd, who stretched one of his Achilles on the first play from scrimmage, was walking around in a cast.

Henning said Friesz and Byrd might not practice this week, but he didn’t count them out for Sunday’s game.

“Gill Byrd could take a year off and be ready to play,” he said. “I just wish I had more like that.”

Swayne has a broken leg, which he injured against New Orleans Nov. 17. Shelton has been playing with a sore shoulder much of the year, but Henning said the injury has worsened and probably will require surgery.

Henning also fears that rookie Stanley Richard might be out for the season with a neck injury. Richard injured his neck in a collision with New Orleans running back Fred McAfee and did not play Sunday.

Offensive lineman Mark May and nickel back Donnie Elder had magnetic resonance tests done on their shoulders and their status is day to day.

Defensive end Burt Grossman injured his shoulder and he may undergo the same procedure.

Henning said rookie safety Floyd Fields, who has been on the injured reserve list all season, will likely be activated to replace Shelton. Offensive lineman Eric Floyd, who has been on injured reserve since Nov. 11, also could be activated to replace Swayne.

The scenarios are not pretty, but here’s what Henning likely will do if all seven can’t go Sunday.

Bob Gagliano, who completed nine of 22 passes for 76 yards with one interception in relief of Friesz Sunday, will start if Friesz can’t.

“He’s a capable guy and he’ll play better this week than he did last week simply because he’ll get more work,” Henning said. “He would have played better this week had it not been under the duress and strain that he went in under.”

Jeff Graham, a free agent from Long Beach State, likely will be activated to the 46-man roster so he can be used in an emergency situation.

“It will perk Jeff up to be activated,” Henning said. “We might see some of Jeff’s pluses in a situation like that.”

Leo Goeas, who started 10 games at left tackle last year but has played little this season, will start in Swayne’s absence.

If he’s healthy, Byrd will start at strong safety. If not, Darren Carrington will start with Fields backing him up.

Donald Frank or Cedric Mack will start at Byrd’s cornerback spot.

Although Frank has played much more than Mack this year, Henning said he has been disenchanted with Frank’s play.

“Donald Frank didn’t play very well (Sunday),” Henning said. “He was involved in a number of plays that were negative for us, positive for them.”

But even if Frank doesn’t start, Henning said he will play on third downs.

One of the few positions that emerged unscathed was linebacker. Henning said Gary Plummer’s injured neck is better than it has been in a while.

“Plummer got hit in the neck and he feels like it might have knocked it back in place,” Henning said.

Outside linebacker Henry Rolling sat out of the Jets game to rest a sprained ankle, but Henning said he should be ready to play against the Raiders.

“I just wish he could play safety,” Henning said.

Rookie receiver Shawn Jefferson remains in Henning’s doghouse. He has not played, except on punt coverage teams, in a month, and Henning didn’t give any indication when Jefferson might play again.

“He hasn’t been playing that well in practice,” Henning said. “He’s not catching the ball in practice as well as he did earlier in the year. He came in here late and he’s never really caught up. He’s a young guy that needs an off-season.”

Safety Martin Bayless’ third annual food drive for the needy took place in the parking lot of Jack Murphy Stadium. Bayless and his teammates gave more than 120 underprivileged families two boxes of food for Thanksgiving.

The food was paid for by donations from players, coaches and Big Bear.

“You may only see us as football players, but a lot of us can identify with the people we fed today,” Bayless said. “You can see a gleam in the eyes of guys as they’re giving the food away.”

Said Jefferson: “This beats any touchdown. Just the satisfaction of seeing the joy on the kids’ faces makes it worthwhile.”