CHARGERS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / DAVE McKIBBEN : Moten Has Tough Assignment for His Homecoming Game

Charger guard Eric Moten is excited to be going home to Cleveland this weekend for the first time as a professional, but he’s not thrilled about the prospect of slugging it out with the Browns’ Pro Bowl nose guard Michael Dean Perry for three hours Sunday afternoon.

“I have to take the good with the bad, I guess,” Moten said.

Moten, who played high school football at Shaw High in East Cleveland, has bought tickets for some 50 friends and relatives to Sunday’s game. He is also eager to enjoy a home-cooked meal at his mother’s house.

Perry will be Moten’s assignment for much of the game. Moten said he held his own against Perry last year.

“There were a couple close calls there, but I managed to weather the storm,” Moten said. “He’s a good player. He plays the run and pass very well. I have to be on top of my game. He’s probably the quickest guy off the ball in the National Football League.”

Linebacker David Grayson would love to be playing Sunday against the Browns, who released him during training camp last year after four seasons in Cleveland. But it won’t happen.

Grayson said he is still at least two weeks away from being ready to play. He broke his leg in the third game last season and has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list.

“They’re kind of leaving it up to me,” Grayson said. “I’m 75 to 80% healthy now.”

Grayson will make the trip back to Cleveland, but he probably won’t be shaking hands after the game with his old coach, Bill Belichick. Grayson respected Belichick as a coach, but that was about as far as their relationship went.

When asked if Belichick had the respect of his players, Grayson said.: “I just think he’s a good coach, I don’t know about respect and all that stuff.”

Receiver Nate Lewis’ miraculous recovery continued Thursday. Lewis, who was supposed to be out two to three weeks with a strained hip flexor, practiced and said he expects to play Sunday in Cleveland.

“It feels real good,” Lewis said. “I’m not surprised. I know my body. I hope it keeps feeling like it is.”

Coach Bobby Ross still lists Lewis as questionable for Sunday, but he was encouraged by Lewis’ work.

Running back Eric Bieniemy suffered a “stinger” on his sprained left ankle when he was hit by a defensive player. When Bieniemy was knocked to the ground, he bounced up and tossed his helmet in frustration.

“It was just the initial shock,” he said. “I’m trying to get this thing back to 100%.”

Defensive end Burt Grossman practiced lightly, but he is still questionable for Sunday.

Tackle Harry Swayne and linebacker Steve Hendrickson got the Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe festivities started early when they duked it out during practice.

Ross said no fines will be issued. Twelve Chargers were fined for their role in a fight three games ago against Denver.

“Sometimes it livens things up a little,” Ross said of the bout.

Said Swayne: “Tempers flared up. No big deal.”

Who started the fight?

“I don’t know, I think I did,” Swayne said.

Afterward, Swayne had no hard feelings toward Hendrickson.

“Steve’s a hard worker,” he said. “He’s trying to find a niche on this team.”

Hendrickson didn’t quite share Swayne’s sentiments.

“I don’t have anything to say about Harry Swayne,” Hendrickson said.