San Diego sacks struggling special teams coach

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers special teams coach Kevin Spencer was dismissed Wednesday after practice.

Spencer's units have struggled throughout the season, especially in the punt-return game. Coming into last week's contest in Jacksonville, the Chargers had 1 punt-return yard, an NFL record through 10 games. Spencer, who had been with the Chargers since 2013, was replaced by his assistant, Craig Aukerman.

--Rookie inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, a second-round pick, is giving the run defense a lift. He has worked his way into a starting spot from special teams with his physical play, and he led the team with seven tackles last week.

"There are still things we have to fix," he said, "but hopefully we can carry the same energy, chemistry and playing as one, into this week."

Perryman and Manti Te'o have formed a quick bond, one that the Chargers are banking on for the foreseeable future.

"We're just flying around out there," Perryman said. "I know the defense feeds off the energy. All I'm doing is earning my stripes."

--Running back Melvin Gordon hasn't had the breakout rookie season the club hoped for after drafting him in the first round. However, he ranks second in the AFC and fourth overall with 510 rushing yards among rookies.

Gordon has yet run for 100 yards in a game or score a touchdown. Teammates noticed a different burst to his game in Sunday's win at Jacksonville. Gordon had 80 yards from scrimmage, 60 coming on the ground.

The Broncos are difficult to run against, though, allowing only 89 yards per game -- third best in the league.

"We'll see what happens the next game against this tough defense," Gordon said. "Hopefully things continue to go my way this game."

--St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke may be willing to share his proposed stadium in the Los Angeles area.

The Rams proposed a sort a partnership with either the San Diego Chargers or Oakland Raiders in Inglewood, Calif., the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday.

According to the report, the second team would share construction costs but realize only game-day revenue. The second team would not be involved in the surrounding development or stadium design.

NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that the Rams' partnership proposal was sent to the league's Committee on Los Angeles, not the teams, and was made without specifying a team as a partner.

The Rams, Chargers and Raiders were making presentations to NFL owners in Irving, Texas, on Wednesday. All three franchises are seeking stadium solutions in their current home market.

The Chargers and Raiders are working jointly on a stadium proposal in Carson, Calif.

Three of the six owners on the league's L.A. committee said this week that they want to finish their work next month.

"We want to get something done in January," Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said Wednesday.

L.A. committee members John Mara of the New York Giants and Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs voiced a similar target on Tuesday.

Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive of Disney, was appointed last month as non-executive chairman by Carson Holdings, which was formed to bring the Chargers and the Raiders to the proposed facility in Carson that would be built by the company.

If the NFL approves the plan, Iger would be responsible for hiring the executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functioning of the $1.7 billion stadium that would be built on a 168-acre plot of land located 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

Kroenke wants to build a $1.86 billion, 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood on land he owns on the old Hollywood Park site.

Public forums were held in October by the NFL in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland. Teams are required to receive a three-fourths vote from NFL owners -- or 24 of 32 owners -- in order to be approved for relocation.

The league has not had an NFL team in Los Angeles since the Rams and Raiders departed for St. Louis and Oakland, respectively, in 1995.

--Offensive coordinator Frank Reich reportedly interviewed for Maryland head coach position during the team's recent trip to Jacksonville. Reich, in his second year with the Chargers as OC, played at Maryland.

--Safety Darrell Stuckey is the team's representative for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Former Charger LaDainain Tomlinson shared the league-wide award with Saints quarterback Drew Brees in 2006.

--Quarterback Philip Rivers (foot) was a full practice participant Wednesday and will start Sunday. Rivers never left the game against the Jaguars, but he took numerous shots to his lower body and was hobbling at times. It his first time on the injury list this season, but he is a full go for Sunday.

--Right guard D.J. Fluker (concussion), who didn't play in the previous game, has yet to return to practice. He could be down another week.

--Left tackle King Dunlap (ankle) was a limited participant after not playing last week. That is a positive.

--Guard/tackle Chris Hairston (abdomen) worked in a limited capacity. He probably will play Sunday.

--Defensive end Corey Liuget (foot) was limited in practice Wednesday. He wasn't nearly 100 percent against the Jaguars.

--Tight end Ladarius Green (ankle) was a full participant and will play Sunday.

--Defensive lineman Darius Philon (leg) practiced for the first time since being placed on the injured reserved/designated to return list on Oct. 17.

--Wide receiver Shane Wynn was signed to the practice squad.