Chargers Still In Limbo

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The NFL still has made no decision about the possibility of moving Sunday's game between the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers. With a rash of wildfires wreaking havoc in San Diego County, the Chargers are spending the week practicing in Arizona. Qualcomm Stadium currently is housing several thousand evacuees, which prompted San Diego State to postpone Saturday's game against Brigham Young to December 1.

"The Chargers continue to have only one goal: provide Mayor (Jerry) Sanders with the time and flexibility he needs to make whatever decision the mayor believes is in the best interests of the people of San Diego," the Chargers said in a statement released Wednesday. In preparation of Sunday's game, the Chargers are practicing at the Arizona Cardinals' facility. "The Chargers are fully prepared to implement whatever decision the mayor makes," the statement continued, "including either playing the game at Qualcomm Stadium or relocating the game to another facility outside the San Diego area."

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said that at least 40 members of the organization have been evacuated due to the fires, including MVP running back LaDainian Tomlinson and linebacker Shawne Merriman. "It was pretty somber," Chargers' center Nick Hardwick said. "They asked guys to raise their hands if they were affected and three quarters of the team, at least, raised their hands. It was pretty unreal."

The Cardinals have a bye week Sunday, but University of Phoenix Stadium is hosting an international motorcycle show, leading to speculation that the Chargers may have to play the game Monday. "Nobody has been ruled in and nobody has been ruled out," Chargers president and CEO Dean Spanos said. "It's such a tragic situation for so many people. Our hearts go out to all of the families who are impacted and particularly those who have lost their homes. I can't imagine what they're going through." This is not the first time the Chargers have been faced with this problem. In 2003, fires in San Diego County forced the team to switch a Monday night home game against the Miami Dolphins to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.