CHARGER NOTEBOOK / T.J. SIMERS : Blaylock to Miss Chance for Revenge

Cornerback Tony Blaylock reported to San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium about 8 a.m. Tuesday, and while it was the Charger players’ day off, he began working.

In an empty locker room he jogged from one end to the other, pushing and prodding his sprained ankle to respond to his demand that it get better.

He missed last week’s game in Kansas City, but no way, he said, was he going to miss this week’s game in Cleveland.

“I worked too hard this off-season to get in shape and get a spot on this team, and now not to be able to participate, hurts,” Blaylock said. “Sometimes you’ve got to tell your body that you can; your body can achieve anything your mind can conceive. I guess I have to tell my body this week that we’re going to play.”

Blaylock continued to work on his body throughout the morning, and then about noon he reported upstairs to review videotape of the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns had released Blaylock last season, and ever since he has been waiting for this opportunity to play against the team that did him wrong. When this year’s schedule came out, friends and family pointed to this upcoming weekend in Cleveland.

He has asked for 30 tickets to honor their requests, and his family has planned to make the trip from North Carolina to Cleveland.

“It would be an injustice for me not to play in this game,” Blaylock said.

A short time later the Chargers informed Blaylock that they were putting him on injured reserve. They need and want Blaylock, but they do not believe his ankle will respond for some time, and they needed to make way for wide receiver Brian Brennan (5-10, 185), who was claimed Tuesday off waivers from Cincinnati.

The Bengals released Brennan, who had caught 16 passes this season for 166 yards with one touchdown, Monday to make room on their roster for wide receiver Reggie Rembert, who completed an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Blaylock will not get the chance to play against his former team, but Brennan will. Brennan caught 315 passes, including 19 for touchdowns, in 117 games in his eight years with the Browns before being released in April.

Ross continued to call wide receiver Nate Lewis (hip flexor) and Burt Grossman (ankle) very doubtful for Sunday’s game in Cleveland. Ross said, however, he expects running back Eric Bieniemy (ankle) to play.

“He will play, I feel pretty certain,” Ross said. “But I still don’t think he will be at 100%.”

Running back Marion Butts, who left the game with Kansas City after tearing free scar tissue in his knee, is expected to play against the Browns.

“I don’t know if he is going to be quite at the speed as we would like him to be,” Ross said. “But he should be OK and ready to go. He should be at 85% to 90%.”

Running back Rod Bernstine began rehabilitation on his shoulder for the first time Tuesday, and while he is eligible to come off injured reserve Monday, it will be a month before the Chargers learn if he will be able to return this season.

The Browns have won four of their last five games, and will be playing their first game in Cleveland Stadium since Oct. 18.

“They beat Pittsburgh and they beat Houston and those are two teams we lost to,” Ross said. “It’s another important ball game for us. We’re not out of it yet, but the hill is a little steeper and a little longer as a result of the loss to Kansas City.

“We have to be able to come back from that, and win, to me an equally as important game as last week’s was. Our (playoff) chances are probably not nearly as strong as if we had beaten Kansas City, but we’re still in it.”

The Browns lost quarterback Bernie Kosar in Week 2, and his replacement, Todd Philcox, the following week. Both players are expected to return to practice this week, but indications are Mike Tomczak will remain the starting quarterback. Tomczak has completed 79 of 140 passes for 1,061 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Kosar, who went down with a fractured ankle, hit 34 of 54 for 405 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Philcox, who guided the Browns to a 28-16 victory against the Raiders, was 10 of 20 for 200 yards with three touchdowns.

“Their offense hasn’t changed,” Ross said. “We’ll prepare for that and take who is coming. I don’t think there is any difference preparation-wise (in who the Browns start at quarterback).”