Injuries Still Sting Chargers : Football: Ailing Grossman, Lewis, add injury to insult of losing to the Chiefs.

The Chargers’ 16-14 loss to Kansas City grew more painful Monday when the team learned it probably will be without wide receiver Nate Lewis and defensive end Burt Grossman for Sunday’s game in Cleveland.

Grossman’s sprained left ankle appears to be more severe than Lewis’ strained hip flexor. Charger trainer Keoki Kamau said Grossman’ injury makes him doubtful for Sunday.

“Burt is the kind of guy who has defied us in the past,” Kamau said. “He’s a tough guy. He will go if he can.”

Kamau said Grossman’s ankle could force him to miss two or three games.

Lewis’ pulled hip flexor was better Monday and Kamau did not rule him out of Sunday’s game. But Kamau said Lewis, who jogged during practice, could also miss up to three games.

“I don’t rule myself out of this week,” Lewis said. “I have to see how it goes. It was a lot better today, but there was some swelling.”

The Chargers already were minus starting cornerback Tony Blaylock, who missed the Chiefs game because of a sprained ankle. Blaylock is off crutches and the swelling in his ankle has subsided. He still is questionable for the Cleveland game.

The only positive injury news Ross received was that running back Marion Butts, who re-aggravated a knee injury, will be available Sunday.

“He’ll play, but he won’t be close to 100%,” Kamau said.

Lewis’ injury might force the Chargers to make a move. With only four receivers on the 47-man roster, Ross said he would look at a couple players this week. Rookie Ray Ethridge, on the physically unable to perform list all season, has been practicing for a month and could be activated.

Ross is not certain who would replace Grossman at end. He said the candidates are Henry Rolling, Junior Seau, Steve Hendrickson, Blaise Winter and Chris Mims.

The logical choice to replace Grossman would be Mims, but Ross is inclined to keep Mims at tackle.

“What we’re seeing out of him at tackle we like,” Ross said. “In certain situations, we may have to move him outside. He has done very well for us.”

Ross said Mims graded out (performance ratings after reviewing films) at 84% on more than 30 plays Sunday at end and tackle.

Although running back Eric Bieniemy didn’t play Sunday because of a sprained ankle, Ross said he expects Bieniemy to play against Cleveland.

After the game, Butts suggested that Kansas City’ tackling techniques might have caused his knee injury. But after looking at the game film, Ross said Butts’ allegations were unfounded.

“That was just an emotional reaction,” Ross said. “There was nothing in the ballgame that would indicate that. I looked at it closely. They tackled fairly. They just tackled tough and I thought we did too.”

Ross defended his blocking strategy on Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, who had four sacks and forced two fumbles on Charger quarterback Stan Humphries in the first half. Throughout the first half, the Chargers left tackle Harry Swayne alone on Thomas.

“Early in the ballgame, Derrick Thomas was like a one-man demolition team,” Ross said. “He was giving us a lot of trouble in both the run and the pass.

“We did have the help built into the game plan, but there was a time or two when we felt like the (pass) pattern we wanted and the protection we had would be OK to take care of it. That wasn’t necessarily the case. It didn’t work out that way.”

Ross said he was also worried about containing left end Neil Smith, who had eight sacks entering the game.

“If you end up helping out on both sides and doubling all the time, then you don’t get (receivers) out and you don’t put pressure on the defense.”

Cornerback Donald Frank, who had two pass deflections and one tackle Sunday, was praised by Ross.

“He might have had his best game since he’s been here,” Ross said. “He graded out at 100%.”