Jackson sprains finger, Hochuli revisits Chargers
Ed Hochuli is the referee for Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals, the first time the Chargers will have seen Hochuli since he blew a call that cost them their Sept. 14 game at Denver last season. Head coach Norv Turner said he will engage in the usual pleasantries with Hochuli before the game. "He's going to officiate a game as we continue in the season," Turner said. "He's a good referee."

Hochuli's mistaken call of an incomplete pass on a Jay Cutler fumble brought the wrath of Turner and many thousands of Chargers fans. The call also prompted a rule change that would allow such a play to be reviewed by replay.

Backup power: Ranking all 32 NFL team's No. 2 quarterbacks - Don Banks - SI.com
7. Billy Volek, San Diego -- Chargers starter Philip Rivers took every snap last season, so we have no fresh reminders of Volek's value in San Diego. But he has played well when given the opportunity, and had a strong start to his preseason Saturday night against Seattle. And who can forget his stellar relief win in the playoffs at Indianapolis in January 2008?

All-Indispensable Team - John P. Lopez - SI.com
All indications thus far are that Tomlinson is on a mission to get better and prove that 30 is the new 25 in the NFL. Still, time is the only thing in the league that is undefeated. If the Chargers say they are not worried about Tomlinson's health, they're lying. Tomlinson had career lows in yards and carries last season and has been on a steady decline since his remarkable 2006 season.

The guy has still got amazing skills and is motivated more than perhaps during any other point in his career. Still, time is undefeated. The Chargers have to do everything possible to keep LT healthy.

Malcom Floyd is humble and healthy
Six years. And yet Floyd was still a restricted free agent this year. Injured and on the practice squad most of his first two seasons, he played in four games his rookie year in 2004. Had it been six games, he would have been an unrestricted free agent this past February and likely would have been guaranteed about five or six times the $1.545 million he received as a restricted free agent. That was an argument he and his agent tried to make to the Chargers this spring, with Floyd even skipping minicamp before deciding on the eve of offseason coaching sessions to take the restricted free-agent tender from the team because, he said, "I didn't see any positives out of missing more time."

Rookie Vasquez is back on the practice field
Third-round pick Louis Vasquez returned to practice yesterday afternoon, working with the second team at right guard. First-rounder Larry English remains sidelined with the hamstring strain that has limited him to working only on the side for much of the past two weeks.

Jay Glazer (Jay_Glazer) on Twitter
heard from my man Lorenzo Neal 2nite. injured his hamstring. figuring out what he wants to do. 1 of the classiest dudes this league has seen (Ed.'s Note: Maybe Lorenzo being released had something to do with this.)

3 Questions For: Luis Castillo
The Chargers defensive end is hoping for a comeback season in 2009. He joins 619 Sports from training camp to answer three questions heading into the second game of the preseason

NFL 101: Rookie English
I was really excited for our practices at Qualcomm Stadium in front of our fans but unfortunately I injured my hamstring the week of our first one. I’ve been working to get back on the field ever since. I also had to miss our first preseason game against Seattle, which was very disappointing. If it were up to me, I would’ve played because I really wanted to be out there, help the team and get my chance to play in my first NFL game. But I realize that in order for this injury to not nag me all year long, it’s important to get it taken care of now.

Chargers Linebacker Merriman Is Back, and Motivated - NYTimes.com
How far Merriman goes in those quests may go a long way toward determining whether he remains in San Diego. In recent years, the Chargers have had one of the league’s most talented rosters, but they have lacked either the coaching, the character or the good health to break through to the Super Bowl.