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SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers' inexperienced quarterback corps was trimmed to two on Saturday when rookie Brett Elliott was among the 21 players cut in order to set the 53-man roster.

For the time being, that leaves the Chargers with untested starter Philip Rivers and rookie Charlie Whitehurst. Rivers, a third-year pro, will make his first NFL start at Oakland on Sept. 11.

"We felt that we had two quarterbacks that we can win with," coach Marty Schottenheimer said.

Later, though, Schottenheimer said: "We will need a third quarterback to get all our work done. You can't do it with just two. You need a third."

General manager A.J. Smith didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

The Chargers could always bring Elliott back by signing him to the practice squad.

The Chargers had a veteran backup, A.J. Feeley, but they cut him on Monday. Two days after being re-signed by Philadelphia, Feeley led the Eagles on three straight scoring drives in a 20-17 exhibition loss to the New York Jets on Saturday night.

If the Chargers don't add a third QB and the first two were to get hurt, "We've got David Binn," Schottenheimer said. Binn is going into his 13th season as San Diego's long snapper.

If Smith doesn't add a third QB, it would be the third time in nine seasons the Chargers had just two QBs on the active roster. They were 4-12 behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie in 2003, and Ryan Leaf and Craig Whelihan led them to a 5-11 record in 1998.

The Chargers carried four quarterbacks in 2004, when they reached the playoffs. Among them was Cleo Lemon, whom Smith traded to Miami last season for Feeley and a draft pick. The decision to get rid of Lemon led to friction between Smith and Schottenheimer that was heightened when Brees was allowed to leave as a free agent in the offseason after hurting his throwing shoulder in the season finale.

San Diego's quarterbacks combined for 10 turnovers in four exhibitions -- seven interceptions and three fumbles. Rivers had an interception returned for a touchdown -- by Brian Urlacher -- and lost a fumble against Seattle that defensive tackle Rocky Bernard recovered in the end zone. Rivers lost three fumbles against the Seahawks.

Whitehurst and Elliott each threw two interceptions Friday night against San Francisco.

"Obviously you don't want to do that because you're compromising your opportunities to win in the preseason," Schottenheimer. "The other thing for us is to get these young players a chance to play the game. We ended up minus-6 giveaway-takeaway. And that's not winning ball, in my opinion. There's few occasions when you can go in the negative giveaway-takeaway and expect to win."

The Chargers also cut safety Hanik Milligan, who went to the Pro Bowl last season as a special teams player.

"I'll just leave it at this -- he saw himself as a safety. We were never comfortable with him in that role," Schottenheimer said. "He was a special teams player only. For us, he didn't fit in that role, as a safety. We have what we consider to be four capable safeties."

The other players released were: receivers Ricky Bryant and Robert Ortiz, tackles Jeromey Clary and Ben Johnson, running backs Larry Croom, Tyronne Gross and Ray Perkins, fullback Jonathan Evans, linebackers Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Jonathan Pollard, cornerback Steve Gregory, tight end Kelly Griffeth, safeties Andre Lott, Mitch Meeuwsen and Hanik Milligan, defensive tackles Brandon McKinney and Alvin Smith, center Nick Mihlhauser, defensive end Chase Page and guard Wes Sims.

Clary was a sixth-round draft pick and Page was a seventh-rounder.

Also, Schottenheimer said Marcus McNeill, a second-round pick, will be the starting left tackle. He returned to action Friday night after missing a game with a broken bone in his left hand. Incumbent Roman Oben is out at least until the seventh week. He's on the physically-unable-to-perform list due to two offseason foot operations.

Schottenheimer said he's not ready to declare whether Drayton Florence has held off a challenge from first-round pick Antonio Cromartie at cornerback.

"I will assure you one thing, he'll get plenty of playing time," Schottenheimer said of Cromartie.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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