CHARGER NOTEBOOK : Phillips Ready to Face Old Teammates

The Chiefs have moved defensive lineman Joe Phillips into the starting lineup just in time for the arrival of his former teammates Sunday.

“They’ve made some adjustments defensively,” Charger Coach Bobby Ross said. “They’ve gone from a base three-man front to a four-man front. One of the real big reasons for that has been the acquisition of Joe Phillips, who was here at San Diego.”

Phillips had anchored the Chargers’ defensive line since 1987, but he became embroiled in a contract dispute with the team this year. The Chargers released him, and the Chiefs signed him as a free agent.

“It just got to the point where I needed to get out of San Diego,” Phillips told the Kansas City Star recently. “It wasn’t just the team. I needed a change of environment. I sat down with (General Manager) Bobby Beathard and Bobby Ross going into training camp and I told them I wanted to move on. I don’t think they listened to me. They just thought I wanted more money.”

Phillips suffered a serious beating outside a San Diego-area restaurant in 1990, and he said the memory of that continued to haunt him. He said he wanted a fresh start, and now that he has it, he awaits his first reunion with his former teammates.

“I know these guys better than anybody, and they know me,” Phillips said. “I’ve played against them in practice a thousand times. But it’s more important this time. It means something.”

The Chiefs (4-4) have lost three of their last four games, and have had difficulty stopping the opposition’s running attack. They have moved nose tackle Bill Maas, a two-time Pro Bowl performer, out of the starting lineup and have promoted Phillips.

“They’ve always used some four-man front, but it’s been strictly situational,” Ross said. “But now it’s their base front. They have had an additional week because of the bye to work on it, and this front four might be as big and as strong and as quick as any in the National Football League.

“If you can go in there and bring in a guy like Joe Phillips and put a guy like Maas on the sideline, then you’ve got a heck of a defensive line.”

The Chiefs’ defense ranks fifth overall, but is 15th against the run. In two of the Chiefs’ last three games, the opposition has shredded Kansas City’s defensive line. The Eagles piled 184 yards on the ground, and the Steelers gained 154 yards.

Inside linebacker Dino Hackett has not played this season because of an ear injury, but is expected to be activated this week. Inside linebacker Tracy Simien, however, will probably miss the game because of a bruised chest muscle.

“It’s a heck of a football team and they have had some tough losses,” Ross said. “It’s a key encounter for both teams. We’re happy about being back in position to play an important game. This is a really important game for us.”

Quarterback Stan Humphries did not practice Monday, but Ross said that Humphries’ bruised knee is not considered serious. He said guard Eric Moten also has a bruised knee, but should start against the Chiefs.

Ross said the most serious injury appears to be running back Eric Bieniemy’s sprained ankle.

“Those are three people that we need very badly,” Ross said, “particularly when you’re going into a game against somebody like Kansas City.”

Chief running back Barry Word, who ranks sixth in the AFC in rushing with 484 yards, did not practice Monday because of a sprained ankle. Christian Okoye, who has carried the ball 70 times for 257 yards, is expected to start in his place.

Kicker Nick Lowery missed the Chiefs’ game with the Steelers because of a groin injury, and has not kicked since Oct. 18, when Kansas City played Dallas. Lowery will try to kick Thursday, and if effective, will play against the Chargers. If not, the Chiefs will re-sign kicker Eddie Murray, who played in place of Lowery against the Steelers.