PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : CHARGERS : Butts Probably Will Play Sunday

The Chargers kept running back Marion Butts on the sideline Sunday after he re-injured his knee, but Coach Bobby Ross said Tuesday that Butts now appears fine.

“He should be OK, and we’ll be carrying him as probable on the injury report,” Ross said.

The Chargers will list safety Stanley Richard (hip flexor) and defensive end Chris Mims (knee) as questionable on their injury report today.

Richards strained a muscle in his upper thigh in Friday’s practice and missed Sunday’s game with the Bengals. Ross said the team will give some work to Richards today.

“Hopefully he can come back and play because I think we really need him,” Ross said. “He’s a very, very important part of our defensive scheme, not only in how he plays, but just in getting people aligned and making the calls.”

Mims suffered a hyperextended knee, and although he returned to play against the Bengals, Ross said it will be the end of the week before the team will be able to determine his playing status for the Raiders.

*

Each week when Ross has addressed the media, he has talked about the importance of the upcoming game.

Tuesday he said, “Each week we come in and say, ‘This is an important game and that’s an important game.’ This might be the most important.

“A win assures us of a playoff spot. We know this, the Raiders will be ready to play. A lot of it depends on what their mood swing may be. I would be very very concerned that they will be in a bad mood when they play us. I’m afraid that’s the way it’s going to be, so we’re going to have to deal with them at their best.”

The Raiders (6-8) however, could also be at their worst. They spent Monday night flying from Miami to Los Angeles after losing 20-7 to the Dolphins, and they have been eliminated from the playoffs.

*

And now you know why Leslie O’Neal is talking again . . .

The Chargers are featured in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated, and next week HBO’s Inside the NFL with Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti will do their show from San Diego. NBC’s Gayle Gardner will be here this week to do a report on the Chargers for “NFL Live” Sunday.

*

Ross has avoided talking about the playoffs in recent weeks, but he said it’s now something that cannot be avoided.

“I mentioned it to our team a lot,” Ross said. “They are grown men, most of them, and they understand. It’s there for us, and we’re in a position to grab it.”