Injuries to Bernstine, O’Neal Unsettle Chargers : Pro football: Bernstine to miss 6 weeks; O’Neal faces surgery; and Seau might miss one more week.

A day after their second victory in a row, the Chargers hardly wanted Keoki Kamau spotlighted. But there the team’s trainer was, detailing the Chargers’ injury situation in two Monday press conferences.

The news is not good, but it could have been worse. Running back Rod Bernstine is out a minimum of six weeks, possibly the season, with a dislocated shoulder. Defensive end Leslie O’Neal suffered damaged cartilage in his right knee that needs surgery, but he is only expected to miss one game. Linebacker Junior Seau’s strained groin that kept him out of Sunday’s game is still sore, he is doubtful for Sunday’s game against Denver.

Bernstine’s shoulder was repaired in a 1-hour, 45-minute operation Monday performed by team physicians Gary Losse and Dan Robertson.

Kamau said Bernstine’s arm will be in a sling for three to four weeks. Coach Bobby Ross said he is not counting on having Bernstine back this season.

“I think it’s optimistic to expect him back,” Ross said. “I don’t foresee it myself. It’s a big loss.”

Bernstine ran for a career-high 150 yards and scored two touchdowns in Sunday’s 34-14 victory over Indianapolis. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter when he was hit by Colt defensive back Mike Pryor.

“It was really too bad,” General Manager Bobby Beathard said. “Rod gets his best game of his career and something like that happens.”

Beathard’s decision not to trade any of his four running backs is looking better in light of Bernstine’s injury.

“They say sometimes the best trades are the ones you never make,” Beathard said.

Bernstine started Sunday in place of Marion Butts, who was out with a knee injury. Butts practiced Monday and said he expects to start Sunday against Denver.

“I felt great out there running today, and I didn’t even run with my brace on,” Butts said. “I wasn’t worried about my leg giving out.”

Butts said the team will miss Bernstine.

“It’s a tough loss,” Butts said. “Me, Eric (Bieniemy) and Ronnie (Harmon) have to step up. When I went down, he stepped up. I have to do likewise.”

Bernstine’s injury is the second major one of his six-year career. In December 1988, Bernstine tore his anterior cruciate ligament. He missed the last two games of 1988, and he played in only five games the next year because of a sprained knee.

Beathard said Peter Tuipulotu, a rookie from Brigham Young, will be activated from the developmental squad to take Bernstine’s roster spot. Beathard also said the club would look at rookie running backs this week to take Tuipulotu’s place on the developmental squad.

O’Neal’s injury came as somewhat of a surprise. The team was not aware of it until O’Neal walked into the training room after the game with a swollen right knee. He suffered the injury during the fourth quarter, but he played the rest of the game.

A magnetic resonance imaging test revealed Monday the torn cartilage. Kamau said the surgery was similar to the kind that was performed on Harmon two weeks ago. Two days after Harmon’s surgery, he was practicing. Although Kamau said it is “highly doubtful” that O’Neal plays Sunday, he is not ruling it out.

“In today’s medicine, it is not out of the question that he play Sunday,” Kamau said.

O’Neal suffered a severe injury to his left knee during the 1986 season that caused him to miss the entire 1987 season.

Twice a Pro Bowler, O’Neal has five sacks through six games, and Sunday he had four tackles, a sack, a tipped pass and a recovered fumble.

O’Neal’s arthroscopic surgery will be performed by Dr. Richard Steadman, who operated on O’Neal’s knee in 1986. Steadman is based in Colorado, and O’Neal might travel there for the operation.

Rookie Chris Mims, the Chargers’ first round draft pick, will get his first NFL start if O’Neal can not play.

“I’d be glad to be able to fill his place,” Mims said. “Those are big shoes.”

The Chargers will bring in former Bengal Jim Skow and former Chief Pellon McDaniel for workouts today as possible backups at defensive end. Mims, O’Neal and Burt Grossman are the only defensive ends on the roster.

Seau was kept out of practice and probably will not try to do anything until Thursday at the earliest. Ross said he might wait until game time Sunday to decide whether to play Seau.

In still another injury, Ross said rookie tackle Mike Mooney’s shoulder probably would require another surgery, sidelining him out for the season.

Charger Notes

The Chargers will also bring in two linebackers for workouts today: ex-Dolphin Louis Cooper and ex-Ram Paul Butcher. . . . Trying to put a positive spin on the situation, Coach Bobby Ross said: “Other than (the injuries), we came through the football game in reasonably good health.”