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09/05/2009 1:50 AM EDT
Chargers, sans stars, beat Niners 26-7
SAN DIEGO 26, SAN FRANCISCO 7

By BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO(AP) -- There was a good reason why all of San Diego's
offensive stars watched the exhibition finale from the sideline.

Coach Norv Turner wanted to make sure they stayed healthy
heading into the regular season.

The Chargers beat the San Francisco 49ers 26-7 on Friday night,
then looked forward to a fast start to the regular season, which
they didn't have last year in part due to injuries to key
players.

"We came into preseason healthy," Turner said. "A year ago at
this time, we had four or five guys who still weren't going to
be able to play for a month. We're healthy. I think there is a
great sense of excitement among our players. I think this team
is getting themselves ready to have a great season."

This one was notable for which Chargers didn't play -
quarterback Philip Rivers, tight end Antonio Gates, running
backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, and wide receivers
Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers.

Chargers inside linebacker Kevin Burnett sustained a stinger
less than five minutes into the game and didn't return. Turner
said Burnett was all right.

Burnett was in good spirits but refused to divulge specifics.

"We don't talk about injuries. See you on Monday night. That's
all I've got to say," he said.

The Chargers, aiming for their fourth straight AFC West title,
open at Oakland a week from Monday night. The 49ers open at
Arizona a week from Sunday.

Turner called for an onside kick to open the game, with Antoine
Cason recovering. That set up a 39-yard touchdown pass from
Billy Volek to Kassim Osgood.

"It's something we may need in a game," Turner said. "It's
something you've got to practice. I would hate for a critical
situation to be the first time we did it in the regular season.
We got a chance to work on it."

Volek didn't take a snap last season. He hasn't played in a real
game since replacing the injured Rivers and scoring the winning
touchdown on a 1-yard sneak in a 28-24 upset win at Indianapolis
in a divisional-round playoff game in January 2008.

Osgood would like to be a receiver but has caught only four
passes the last four seasons. He's better known as a special
teams ace, earning two trips to the Pro Bowl.

Burnett was hurt when he was spun around by a blocker and then
hit from behind by running back Glen Coffee, which knocked him
into tight end Vernon Davis and pushed his head back.

Burnett was down for several minutes before getting up and
walking off the field. He then headed to the locker room with a
trainer.

San Francisco starting quarterback Shaun Hill was in for just
the opening series.

Hill was hit pretty good by Chargers outside linebacker Shawne
Merriman, who's coming back from knee surgery that cost him all
but the season opener in 2008.

"We started moving the ball there in the first quarter," Hill
said. "I took a good shot. Actually I felt pretty good. I think
obviously we would have liked to come away with some points on
that drive but we were able to move the ball a little bit."

San Francisco's Jason Hill caught a 21-yard pass from
third-string quarterback Nate Davis in the second quarter.

San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding got a good workout, with field
goals of 36, 47, 51 and 28 yards.

San Diego third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst threw a 15-yard TD
pass to rookie tight end Kory Sperry in the closing minutes.

49ers WR Dominique Zeigler injured an ankle. He'll have X-rays
and possibly an MRI.

"The biggest thing we wanted to accomplish tonight is not
getting anybody injured," San Francisco coach Mike Singletary
said. "For the most part we came through with the exception of
Zeigler."

NOTES: San Diego's Gartrell Johnson gained 85 yards on 20
carries and Michael had 30 yards on eight carries. ... San
Francisco rookie LB Diyral Briggs had a stinger.

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