Chargers : Defensive End Les Miller Is Out Indefinitely

SAN DIEGO — As though chasing Denver’s John Elway won’t be a tough enough assignment for the Chargers this week, they will have to do it without one of their most reliable pass rushers.

Les Miller, a replacement player who won a starting job at defensive end after the strike, was declared out indefinitely Tuesday because of a bone chip in his left ankle. Joe Phillips, another replacement who stayed, is expected to take his place in Sunday’s game at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Miller, a rookie from Fort Hays State, was hurt early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-3 loss to the Seahawks. The injury may be serious enough to place him on the injured reserve list, which would keep him out a minimum of four weeks.

“We figure he’ll miss three or four games,” said Ron Lynn, the Chargers’ defensive coordinator. “We’re trying to determine whether it’s one or the other.”

If Miller goes on injured reserve, chances are that inside linebackers Steve Busick and Gary Plummer, who are eligible to come off the injured reserve list, will be activated.

Coach Al Saunders indicated he might juggle his defensive line to use quicker pass rushers in pursuit of Elway.

Asked if he had any quicker people, Saunders replied, “That’s the problem.”

One player who may answer the description is Keith Baldwin, a six-year man from Texas A&M;, who was picked up as a free agent over the summer. Baldwin is a better-than-average pass rusher.

Other defensive ends available are Dee Hardison and Terry Unrein, both of whom were on the five-man inactive list last week.

Saunders said he was leaning toward Phillips for the outside position opposite Lee Williams in the Chargers’ three-man front. Mike Charles will start in the middle, backed by Chuck Ehin.

“We’ll make a decision later in the week,” Saunders said. “We have to decide what alignment will be best to go against Elway. He’s probably the most effective quarterback in the National Football League at operating out of the pocket.”

Saunders said that defensive end Leslie O’Neal, named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 1986 by the Associated Press, was slightly behind schedule in his rehabilitation from the knee injury he suffered in the 13th game last season.

“He certainly won’t be back this year,” Saunders said. “He’s coming along, but it’s a slow process. At least he’s doing some jogging now, which is a good sign.”

Inside linebacker Mike Humiston, a replacement player, was placed on waivers Tuesday.

Humiston, a four-year pro from Weber State, had come out of retirement from football to make money for his son, who has muscular dystrophy. He was one of the top defensive players on the Chargers’ undefeated strike team, and started a post-strike game against the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 8. But he was beaten out by still another replacement, Jeffrey Jackson, and played only on the special teams in the last two games.

Lynn said of Humiston: “He added a lot to our team during the strike with his toughness and desire to play the game. It certainly wasn’t a negative for us to have him around. But I really think he saw the handwriting on the wall.”

Lynn said that with the additions of Busick and Plummer, Humiston had become expendable.

Humiston, who is expected to return to his job as a deputy sheriff in Red Bluff, Calif., could not be reached for comment.