Chargers May Turn to Leaf

San Diego Coach Mike Riley was mum on the subject Monday, but Jim Harbaugh took care of the announcement.

“I think it’s probably Ryan who’s the starting quarterback,” Harbaugh said of Ryan Leaf, who supplants Harbaugh in the job.

“He took the first snaps today, he took the start the last game. He’s earned it, though. Everybody’s had a shot at it and he’s taken his opportunities and played real well.”

Riley has said he would like to have a starter named before the exhibition finale Friday night at home against Arizona.

In three exhibitions, Leaf has completed 32 of 50 passes for 350 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

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Oakland signed five-time Pro Bowl receiver Andre Rison, who was released last week by Kansas City. Terms weren’t disclosed, but it was reported that Rison signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $450,000 and a $100,000 signing bonus.

Rison is scheduled to stand trial next month on a felony theft charge that accuses him of renting audio equipment worth $1,100 from Guitar World in Overland Park, Kan., last September and failing to return the equipment. If convicted, Rison could face six to 18 months in prison.

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Dolphin quarterback Damon Huard failed to lead the first-team offense to a touchdown for the third consecutive exhibition, but his team scored with 25 seconds to play to beat the injury-riddled Green Bay Packers, 17-14, at Miami.

Rookie Ben Kelly returned a punt 73 yards for Miami with less than a minute to play, setting up the go-ahead touchdown on a two-yard pass play from Mike Quinn to Deon Dyer.

Green Bay played without quarterback Brett Favre (tendinitis in his throwing arm) and running back Dorsey Levens (knee surgery).

Matt Hasselbeck got the start in place of Favre but completed only five of 12 against Miami’s first-team defense. Third-string quarterback Danny Wuerffel fared better against the Dolphin reserves, leading Green Bay to two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Huard played three quarters, completing 16 of 23 passes for 138 yards but his scoreless performance seemingly left plenty of room for Jay Fiedler to take over the starting job before the season opener. Fiedler, recovering from a hip injury, returned to practice Saturday and is expected to be given significant time in Miami’s exhibition finale Friday against New Orleans.

Miami’s Olindo Mare missed field goals from 33, 50, 48 and 51 yards in the exhibition.

Another disappointment for the Dolphins was a right hip injury to wide receiver Lamar Thomas on the first play from scrimmage. He underwent surgery Monday night for the injury that team officials called a “fractured dislocation” and could be out for the season.

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Offensive tackle Kris Farris, the 1998 Outland Trophy winner at UCLA, and former starting tackle Chris Conrad were among 10 players cut by Pittsburgh. . . . Cincinnati cut kicker Doug Pelfrey after he was beaten out by rookie Neil Rackers. . . . Defensive tackle Brad Culpepper was among 12 players released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, clearing the way for second-year pro Anthony McFarland to move into the starting lineup. . . . Defensive tackle Tony Siragusa ended a four-week holdout and joined Baltimore after getting a two-year extension on the remaining year on his contract. . . .

Detroit quarterback Mike Tomczak was put on injured reserve, three days after he broke his leg in an exhibition loss to Oakland. Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt, a former Detroit player and coach, had heart bypass surgery and was listed in fair condition. . . . Atlanta Falcon backup defensive end Pellom McDaniels will miss the season because of small blood clots in his lungs. . . . Dallas cornerback Kevin Smith, who left training camp to consider retirement because of a back injury, probably will not return to the team. . . . Minnesota receiver Randy Moss does not have to pay restitution to a man he beat up while both were in high school, a judge ruled. . . . Miami running back J.J. Johnson faces a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s steroid policy. An appeal is expected.