Chargers lose RB Gartrell Johnson to New York Giants via waivers

San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, right, fumbles the ball and is brought down by Oakland Raiders defensive end Greg Ellis (99) during the first quarter of their NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Battered by injuries during their Monday night win in Oakland, the San Diego Chargers lost another running back late Tuesday afternoon, one who did not even play.

Hours after Coach Norv Turner indicated the team wanted to re-sign rookie tailback Gartrell Johnson, SDNN learned the team lost him to the New York Giants.

The Giants claimed the running back on NFL waivers and activated him to their roster. The Giants were down to just two running backs Tuesday, after backup and special teams star Danny Ware was diagnosed with a dislocated elbow suffered in the Giants opening day game.

Johnson — drafted in the fourth round out of Colorado State — was the surprise story in the Chargers camp, leading the team in rushing with 187 yards in four games and catching seven passes for 57 yards along with excelling on special teams.

Johnson made the opening day roster. But the running back was put on waivers on Monday morning before the Raiders game. The move allowed the club to sign extra defensive lineman Andre Coleman for the Raiders game due to injury issues at defensive end.

The Chargers made a surprise decision by keeping an extra fullback Billy Latsko on the developmental squad rather than protecting Johnson. Now he is gone, the club may have to deal with a numbers issue at running back due to the ailing ankle to star LaDainian Tomlinson.

Meanwhile the battered offensive line may look to bring back veteran left tackle LJ Shelton, cut last week when rosters were pared to 53. Both center Nick Hardwick and right guard Louis Vasquez are day-to-day after injuries suffered Monday.

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The team must decide whether to bring back Shelton and keep San Diego State star Brandyn Dombrowski inside at guard. Or whether to move Dombrowski back to tackle and find another center — possibly Tyronne Green or Ryan McDonald — both of whom were in camp and played in preseason.

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Hardwick told XX-1090 he is rehabbing around the clock with ice treatments and stimulation He also said the badly sprained ankle was better than he thought it would be after the injury on Monday, when a Raiders pass rusher was pushed into the back of his legs in a pile up. He was on crutches early Tuesday morning, then placed in a large foot boot on Tuesday afternoon.

His injury seems worse than the sprained knee of right guard Louis Vasquez. The Chargers have depth problems at guard also, having lost veteran Kynan Forney last week when he was claimed on waivers by Carolina.

The defensive line problems remain with Jacques Cesaire battling a calf injury, nose tackle Jamal Williams dealing with a sprained elbow and pass rusher Luis Castillo nursing elbow and shoulder injuries.

Lee Hamilton was the longtime voice of the Chargers and covers NFL football now for the NFL-Compass Network. He writes columns weekly for SDNN.

Tags: Billy Latsko, Gartrell Johnson, Hacksaw, LaDainian Tomlinson, Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers, SDNN

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