CHARGERS : Bieniemy Sheds Weight, Gains Respect : Football: The running back is quicker now that he now longer is thicker.

It doesn’t just look like running back Eric Bieniemy has gained quickness and dropped pounds since last season. He has.

Bieniemy said he has shed 10-12 pounds from his playing weight last season of 210 pounds.

“I feel a lot better,” said Bieniemy, the Chargers’ second-round draft choice in 1991.

Coach Bobby Ross likes the 1992 version of Bieniemy.

“He had about as complete a scrimmage as anybody we had out there,” Ross said. “He’s had a very good camp.”

Unlike last season, when Bieniemy acknowledged he spent most of the exhibition and regular seasons in the dark.

“They didn’t tell me what to report in at,” he said. “They didn’t tell me what my role was going to be. It was very frustrating.”

Bieniemy, who played just on special teams last year, feels more involved now.

“It was a humbling experience for me last year,” he said. “Having the opportunity to at least run a few plays, is nice.”

But one play Monday morning happened to be a fumble, an old problem of Bieniemy’s, both in college and with the Chargers. As he darted through the middle, Bieniemy was stripped.

“They snuck one in on me,” Bieniemy said. “When you have great running backs, you can’t slack off in any aspect of the game. They’ve proven themselves. I have yet to prove myself and that’s why I’m here.

But will Bieniemy get the chance to prove himself? Will he carry the ball more than three times?

“We’ll see how it shakes out,” Ross said. “We’re looking at him as kickoff guy and punt return guy. He’s just the kind of guy you like to find ways to get into a football game.”

Ross said he knows the chances of holdout nose tackle Joe Phillips coming into camp are bleak. But that doesn’t mean he’s given up hope.

“We want him here,” Ross said. “I like Joe. That’s the one phase of our game that could help us a little bit.”

Ross said he will continue to play free agent Blaise Winter, 30, in Phillips’ position. But Ross said he would love for Winter to put on some weight.

“He’s not real big--280 pounds,” Ross said. “He struggles to keep it at that.”

Safety Anthony Shelton had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder to repair cartilage damage. Ross said Shelton could be out indefinitely.

“It could be pretty serious to the standpoint of his participation for this season,” Ross said.

General Manager Bobby Beathard also had shoulder surgery.

“We’ll give him a red jersey (given to players held out of practice with injuries) tomorrow,” Ross laughed.

Is Beathard out for the year?

“He’d better not be,” Ross said.

Receiver Shawn Jefferson (strained hamstring) should play in Saturday’s exhibition opener at Phoenix, but Nate Lewis is still being bothered by a sore quadriceps muscle and will be kept out of Saturday’s game.

Burt Grossman did not practice because of a broken toe, but Ross said he shouldn’t miss much time. Arthur Paul, a rookie defensive tackle from Arizona State, has the gout.

Ross said Paul is on medication.