Pain is Plainly Not on the Wane for McMahon
SAN DIEGO — Is Jim McMahon hurting, or isn’t he? If he is hurting, how badly?
These questions refuse to go away, and they received another airing Wednesday when the Chargers began preparations for Sunday’s game against the Broncos in Denver.
The latest round of confusion began when the Chargers listed McMahon as questionable on their injury report because of a sore back. This meant--on the surface at least--that they felt the veteran quarterback had only a 50-50 chance to play Sunday.
Since McMahon had gone all the way against the Phoenix Cardinals last Sunday, his entry on the injury report was a surprise on two counts.
McMahon has had sore ribs since the season opener, but the problem obviously hasn’t been serious. Also, the Chargers reported after the Phoenix game that he had a stiff neck. They didn’t mention anything about his back.
The mystery deepened when McMahon took his full complement of snaps in Wednesday’s practice session. And, predictably, both he and Coach Dan Henning said afterward that he definitely would play Sunday.
When McMahon was approached on the matter, he said, “It’s just the same old nagging thing I’ve had all year.”
Asked why he had been listed as questionable, he said, “Ask them. I didn’t say anything. I’ve played for three weeks with it, so why would there be any question about playing this week?”
McMahon added that he wasn’t happy about the way the offense had functioned in the workout.
“If we play like we practiced on offense today, we’re not going to do a hell of a lot,” he said. “Maybe it was just a bad day, but we didn’t do much.”
Good day or bad, the question at hand was McMahon’s physical condition, and this was how Henning dealt with it in his meeting with reporters:
Question: McMahon was listed as questionable, yet he worked out. Why questionable?
Answer: He strained his neck in the Phoenix game.
Q: But now they say it’s his back that hurts?
A: Well, it’s the back of his body.
Q: But why questionable?
A: I don’t make up the list.
Q: Is there any question that he will play?
A: No, he’s just questionable. But he practiced and didn’t show any ill effects. He’s been taking treatments. It’s a nagging-type thing.
Q: Why is he listed as questionable this week when he wasn’t last week?
A: I don’t know. Does it make any difference? It’s probably because we’re pressed to make up the report before practice each Wednesday.
Q: Then is there any doubt that McMahon will play Sunday?
A: I think the guy will play.
That settles it, then. McMahon is still sore, be it in the ribs, neck or back, but you can count on his presence at quarterback in Denver.
Also on the Chargers’ injury front, Henning said that offensive tackle Joel Patten (knee) probably would miss Sunday’s game and that wide receiver Quinn Early (knee) and cornerback Sammy Seale (shoulder) wouldn’t play unless they healed quickly.
“Patten just doesn’t figure to be ready,” Henning said. “Early is between doubtful and questionable. He says he’ll be ready, but being a receiver, he has to have his normal speed, and I don’t know if he will. Seale can’t do any hitting right now, so I’d call him questionable.”
Patten was listed as doubtful, and Henning said he planned to start Joey Howard in his place. Howard, 6-5 and 305 (two pounds lighter than Patten), was the Chargers’ ninth-round draft choice last year but spent the season on injured reserve with a bad knee. He didn’t play at all this season until Patten got hurt in the third quarter in Phoenix.
Patten didn’t practice, and Larry Beightol, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, said, “I have a rule that if a guy can’t practice one of the two work days ( Wednesday and Thursday ) , he can’t start. Right now, Howard is the starter.”
Told of this, Howard said, “I’m looking forward to the opportunity, but it’s so far off. This is only Wednesday.”
Charger Notes
Five Chargers listed as questionable are expected to play Sunday. They are running back Marion Butts (sternum), wide receiver Anthony Miller (back), wide receiver Darryl Usher (hamstring), strong safety Martin Bayless (quadriceps) and H-back Rod Bernstine (knee) . . . . Listed as probable are center Courtney Hall (ankle), defensive end Burt Grossman (wrist), defensive end Lee Williams (back), cornerback Gill Byrd (ankle), linebacker Gary Plummer (shoulder) and offensive tackle Brett Miller (knee) . . . . The Broncos have a brief injury report. Nose tackle Greg Kragen (knee) is out and center Keith Kartz (ear), an alumnus of San Dieguito High School, is probable.
