LaDainian Tomlinson has been ruled out of the San Diego Chargers' home opener against the Baltimore Ravens tomorrow due to a sprained ankle, just the second time the star running back will miss a start due to injury in his brilliant nine-year career.

The former NFL MVP, who was hurt in Monday night's 24-20 win at Oakland, hadn't missed a game due to injury until January, when a groin injury kept him out of a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tomlinson's carries will go to Darren Sproles and Michael Bennett, a late-season addition last year who made the roster out of training camp.

Also out are center Nick Hardwick (ankle) and defensive end Travis Johnson (groin). Right guard Louis Vasquez (knee) could also be sidelined, along with linebacker Antwan Applewhite (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (elbow). All three are listed as questionable for tomorrow.

Hardwick will be replaced by Scott Mruczkowski. If Vasquez can't go, Brandyn Dombrowski will get his first NFL start.

The Chargers have the wrong opponent to not be at full strength. They expect a tough, physical game against the hard-nosed Ravens, who advanced to last season's AFC championship game before losing to the Steelers.

The previous year it was the Chargers getting one win away from the Super Bowl before losing to the New England Patriots.

"You've got two teams that are awfully good and see themselves as being pretty good," coach Norv Turner said yesterday. "They are a very physical football team and we are a physical football team. So I think it's going to be a heck of a matchup. We both have aspirations of doing something very special. Both teams would like to have the kind of year to get there again."

Both squads are coming off close wins over AFC West opponents. The Chargers beat Oakland, 24-20, and the Ravens beat the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, 38-24.

"I think playing in our home stadium is big for us," Turner said.

EAGLES

QB MCNABB MISSES PRACTICE; DOUBTFUL

Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb is doubtful for tomorrow's game against New Orleans because of a fractured rib.

McNabb sat out practice for the third straight day yesterday. Coach Andy Reid refused to rule out McNabb and said there was a chance he would participate in today's walkthrough.

"He felt a little bit better today and we'll just keep rehabbing him and see how it goes the next couple of days," Reid said.

Kevin Kolb took snaps with the first team and is expected to start if McNabb can't play. Kolb would be making his first career NFL start ahead of veteran Jeff Garcia, who signed Tuesday as an emergency backup.

Garcia and Michael Vick shared snaps running the scout team yesterday. Garcia would be the No. 3 emergency QB if McNabb could somehow play. Vick is not eligible until Week 3 against Kansas City.

Kolb said he is preparing like he is the starter.

"He takes charge in there and he's done a nice job with managing the huddle and the plays," Reid said.

McNabb bellowed "I feel great" and laughed as he left the Eagles locker room.

ELSEWHERE

Fines: The NFL has fined San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers $7,500 for taunting in Monday night's victory at Oakland. Rivers was involved in an incident with Raiders defensive lineman Gerard Warren which resulted in a 15-yard penalty as well as the fine.

• The NFL has fined Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson $10,000 for a hit on San Francisco receiver Vernon Davis last Sunday. Wilson was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, on which he broke up a pass. Davis wasn't hurt.

• The NFL has fined Redskins receiver Santana Moss and Giants cornerback Corey Webster $5,000 apiece for their tussle during last week's game. Moss and Webster struck each other in the head during the second quarter of New York's 23-17 victory over Washington on Sunday. Webster knocked Moss' helmet off.

Bears: Middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who is replacing the injured Brian Urlacher, won't be the only new starter for Chicago when it hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow. Coach Lovie Smith said that Zack Bowman will make his first career start in place of Nate Vasher at right cornerback. Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, a University of Hawai'i alum, has a knee sprain, and will be replaced by Nick Roach.

Seahawks: Walter Jones could play tomorrow for Seattle at San Francisco, one month to the day after knee surgery. Seattle's nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle had his most extensive practice yesterday since his second knee surgery in eight months. The 35-year-old did some team drills and is listed as questionable.

49ers: San Francisco wide receiver Brandon Jones is unlikely to play tomorrow against Seattle after returning to practice this week from a shoulder injury. Jones, a fifth-year pro in his first season with San Francisco, sustained a small fracture in his right shoulder during training camp Aug. 6.

Bills: Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee has signed a contract extension. The deal is for four years, according to a person familiar with the contract. The 28-year-old led the Bills with three interceptions last season and is the team's all-time leader in kickoff returns (206) and kickoff return yards (5,420).

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

EAST W L T PCT PF PA

New England 1 0 0 1.000 25 24.

N.Y. Jets 1 0 0 1.000 24 7.

Buffalo 0 1 0 .000 24 25.

Miami 0 1 0 .000 7 19.

SOUTH W L T PCT PF PA

Indianapolis 1 0 0 1.000 14 12.

Houston 0 1 0 .000 7 24.

Jacksonville 0 1 0 .000 12 14.

Tennessee 0 1 0 .000 10 13.

NORTH W L T PCT PF PA

Baltimore 1 0 0 1.000 38 24.

Pittsburgh 1 0 0 1.000 13 10.

Cincinnati 0 1 0 .000 7 12.

Cleveland 0 1 0 .000 20 34.

WEST W L T PCT PF PA

San Diego 1 0 0 1.000 24 20.

Denver 1 0 0 1.000 12 7.

Kansas City 0 1 0 .000 24 38.

Oakland 0 1 0 .000 20 24.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

EAST W L T PCT PF PA

N.Y. Giants 1 0 0 1.000 23 17.

Dallas 1 0 0 1.000 34 21.

Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 38 10.

Washington 0 1 0 .000 17 23.

SOUTH W L T PCT PF PA

New Orleans 1 0 0 1.000 45 27.

Atlanta 1 0 0 1.000 19 7.

Carolina 0 1 0 .000 10 38.

Tampa Bay 0 1 0 .000 21 34.

NORTH W L T PCT PF PA

Green Bay 1 0 0 1.000 21 15.

Minnesota 1 0 0 1.000 34 20.

Chicago 0 1 0 .000 15 21.

Detroit 0 1 0 .000 27 45.

WEST W L T PCT PF PA

San Francisco 1 0 0 1.000 20 16.

Seattle 1 0 0 1.000 28 0.

Arizona 0 1 0 .000 16 20.

St. Louis 0 1 0 .000 0 28.

TOMORROW, HAWAI'I TIMES

Houston at Tennessee, 7 a.m.

Minnesota at Detroit, 7 a.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 7 a.m.

St. Louis at Washington, 7 a.m.

New England at N.Y. Jets, 7 a.m.

Oakland at Kansas City, 7 a.m.

Cincinnati at Green Bay, 7 a.m.

New Orleans at Philadelphia, 7 a.m.

Arizona at Jacksonville, 7 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 10:05 a.m.

Seattle at San Francisco, 10:05 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago, 10:15 a.m.

Baltimore at San Diego, 10:15 a.m.

Cleveland at Denver, 10:15 a.m.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 2:20 p.m.

MONDAY

Indianapolis at Miami, 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27

Washington at Detroit, 7 a.m.

Tennessee at N.Y. Jets, 7 a.m.

Green Bay at St. Louis, 7 a.m.

Cleveland at Baltimore, 7 a.m.

San Francisco at Minnesota, 7 a.m.

Jacksonville at Houston, 7 a.m.

Atlanta at New England, 7 a.m.

N.Y. Giants at Tampa Bay, 7 a.m.

Kansas City at Philadelphia, 7 a.m.

Chicago at Seattle, 10:05 a.m.

New Orleans at Buffalo, 10:05 a.m.

Miami at San Diego, 10:15 a.m.

Denver at Oakland, 10:15 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 10:15 a.m.

Indianapolis at Arizona, 2:20 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 28

Carolina at Dallas, 2:30 p.m.