CHARGER NOTEBOOK : Blaylock Sustains Ankle Sprain

Charger starting cornerback Tony Blaylock is expected to miss Sunday’s game in Kansas City after sustaining a seriously sprained ankle in practice Wednesday.

Blaylock injured his ankle in one-on-one drills, and after being removed from the field on a cart, he was taken to Dr. Gary Losse’s offices for X-rays.

“Anthony suffered a significant ankle sprain; X-rays came back negative,” Charger trainer Keoki Kamau said. “To determine the severity of the injury we will have to wait until (today) because the amount of swelling dictates how serious this is.”

If Blaylock has suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, the injury might force him onto injured reserve. Coach Bobby Ross indicated that cornerback Marquez Pope would be the likely candidate to come off injured reserve to replace Blaylock.

Teammates have credited Blaylock with being one of the prime contributors in the defense’s outstanding start in 1992. Blaylock has two interceptions and is fourth on the team in tackles with 32.

“He’s played very well for us,” Ross said. “But it’s something we will have to overcome.”

Sean Vanhorse, who has been playing in nickel situations, is expected to start in Blaylock’s place.

In addition to Blaylock, Ross expressed concern with the playing status of running back Eric Bieniemy, who is listed as questionable with an ankle injury.

“He needs to be at full speed on a turf field,” Ross said. “He can be an asset to us, because he’s quick and gives us a good tempo change.”

The Chargers also listed quarterback Stan Humphries (knee), guard Eric Moten (knee), defensive end Leslie O’Neal (knee), linebacker Junior Seau (groin) and defensive tackle Blaise Winter (knee) as probable, and each practiced without problem Wednesday.

In Marty Schottenheimer’s three-year coaching tenure at Kansas City, the Chiefs have never lost three games in a row.

For that matter, in his last three years as coach in Cleveland, the Browns never lost three in a row.

The Chiefs (4-4) enter Sunday’s game with the Chargers in Arrowhead Stadium with a two-game losing streak.

“I think to suggest the ninth game of the year is a critical game, it would be easy to say, ‘Yeah,’ but I don’t think that it is,” Schottenheimer said. “My feeling is it is an important game in the sense that we have lost two games in a row. That’s why it is important, because we’ve got to go back and perform well.”

The Chiefs, who are coming off a bye week, were embarrassed on Sunday night TV two weeks ago in a 27-3 loss to Pittsburgh. It was the largest margin of defeat in Schottenheimer’s reign in Kansas City.

“We have an opportunity to beat a very good football team on the road,” Ross said. “I’m certainly no authority on it, but I can’t imagine a whole lot of teams being more talented than what Kansas City is as a whole.”

The Chiefs opened the season in San Diego with a 24-10 victory. They struggled offensively against the Chargers, however, gaining 61 yards on 28 rushes and scoring only a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The Chiefs intercepted three of quarterback Stan Humphries’ passes and limited the ground game to 88 yards on 24 carries. But the Chargers have turned it around, and Schottenheimer has noticed.

“Humphries has obviously had an opportunity to become familiar with his teammates and they with him,” Schottenheimer said. “That familiarity has been a big plus.

“On the defensive side it’s a matter of them having a far better understanding now than they did early on about the things Bill (Arnsparger) wants them to do. There was no doubt in my mind given the talent on that defensive front and Bill Arnsparger working with it, it was going to become a very formidable outfit. And it clearly has.”

The Chargers have won four in a row and have a chance to pass Kansas City in the standings and challenge Denver for first place.

“I fully expect to see the same team that has averaged 25 points a game the last four weeks and only given up 10,” Schottenheimer said. “They are a fine football team and (Ross) has done a great job.”

Charger Notes

Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer said safety Stanley Richard was the Chargers’ most improved player over a year ago. Charger linebacker Gary Plummer, who didn’t hear Schottenheimer’s comments, had similar sentiments.

“We spent an awful lot of time this year working out in the off-season together and you can see the difference in Stanley Richard,” Plummer said. “He always had the ability physically to get the job done, but he was responsible last year for making check calls and I don’t think he was real sure of himself. But now you can see that confidence and it’s had a huge impact.” . . . The Chiefs listed running back Barry Word (ankle) and linebacker Tracy Simien (shoulder) as questionable. Linebacker Chris Martin (knee), kicker Nick Lowery (groin), wide receiver Fred Jones (neck), cornerback Dale Carter (virus), tight end Mike Dyal (ankle), running back Christian Okoye (thigh) and cornerback Albert Lewis (ribs) were listed as probable.