Charger Subs Rise to Occasion

There’s more to the San Diego Chargers’ defense than just Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison.

Granted, the Chargers don’t want to be without their injured All-Pro players for too long, but they got by just fine in a 23-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Defensive end Raylee Johnson had a career-high three sacks and linebacker Michael Hamilton filled in admirably for Seau, including one play on which he clothes-lined rookie quarterback Tim Couch.

“I didn’t want to go in there and let the team down,” said Hamilton, who made the first start of his three-year career. “I didn’t want to be the one, you know, ‘Well, they’re without Junior and his backup did not do his part.’

“I looked at my playbook a little longer this week.”

Owners of the NFL’s least-productive offense, the expansion Browns turned out to be just what the Chargers needed to end a six-game losing streak.

San Diego (5-7) got short scoring runs from Kenny Bynum and rookie Jermaine Fazande, and three field goals from John Carney.

Seau was a late scratch because of a strained stomach muscle and a rib injury, and Harrison sat out his seventh game because of a shoulder injury. Harrison was expected to return, but tore scar tissue Friday in practice.

The Chargers also were without defensive tackle Norman Hand, cornerback Terrance Shaw and running back Natrone Means, who has sat out six games.

With the Chargers’ big stars sidelined, “I thought we would have a big day,” Couch said. “They played a lot of man coverage which gave us opportunities for some big plays, but we just didn’t take advantage of them.”