CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Now, This: Plummer Injured by Hit--From Assistant Coach

Just when you’ve heard it all this season . . .

Charger linebacker Gary Plummer took an elbow to the ribs from offensive assistant coach Jack Reilly on Wednesday and has been listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game with the Broncos with torn rib cartilage.

“It would be humorous if it hadn’t involved me possibly not being able to play,” Plummer said.

Plummer spoke out recently and suggested that some of his teammates were not giving it their all because of injuries they had suffered. A magazine cover hangs in his locker, which reads, “Play hurt, be a stud.”

“I didn’t want to make any big deal, obviously, because here I come out and say what a bunch of (wimps) we have on our team and I go on the injury report because a coach hits me,” he said. “How ironic is that?”

Plummer, the team’s No. 2 tackler, missed practice Thursday.

“All year long when I rush the passer, I hit Jack Reilly instead of hitting the quarterback,” Plummer said. “Well, I came in and I hit Jack and unbeknown to me, Jack was having a bad day. So he literally reared back as hard as he could and hit me in the ribs.

“They took X-rays, it’s not broken, but I have separated cartilage. I’m serious as a heart attack. I couldn’t finish practice (Wednesday). I wasn’t expecting him to do anything, but he just got ticked.

“As it stands right now I wouldn’t be able to play today or tomorrow. But I’m going to definitely give it my best shot.”

Reilly, 46, looks like a spectator. Plummer stands 6-2 and weighs 244 pounds.

“We’re just trying to see how tough Plummer is,” Reilly said. “He dishes it out, but he can’t take it.”

After Plummer took the shot to the ribs, he tried to walk away in pain without letting anyone know he was hurt.

“Please put it in the back (of the paper) if you are going to write it,” Plummer said. “Don’t make this a story; it’s going to look bad enough as it is. Put it way back. . . . I mean, here I am possibly being put out of a game by a coach--by a diminutive coach in stature at that.”

Coach Dan Henning will be driven to practice today in a limousine.

After each victory the team’s equipment department and training room staff meet, nominate and vote for the player of the game.

The winner becomes designated as the “B-2 Penthouse Gold Card” winner and receives his own personal T-shirt and prime-time treatment. The winner is served doughnuts, orange juice and the morning newspaper on a silver tray each day and receives preferential treatment in the training room. In addition, on Friday the winner gets driven to the practice field in a limo.

This past week the equipment department and training room staff selected running back Rod Bernstine, who scored three touchdowns in the Chargers’ 38-30 victory over the Dolphins, and Henning. Bernstine and Henning each will have their own limo today.

“When you put 38 points on the board against such a great coach as Don Shula and against one of the great quarterbacks in Dan Marino,” said equipment manager Sid Brooks, “who would you give the reward to this week?”

Henning wore his T-shirt to Thursday’s practice, and was waiting for his orange juice, doughnut and newspaper at 5:30 a.m.

“He’s taken it beyond the limit, I think,” trainer Keoki Kamau said with a tired smile.

Courtney Hall, Harry Swayne, Ronnie Harmon, Gill Byrd and Darren Carrington will speak today at the Charger Backer luncheon at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium at 11 along with Henning.