"Naturally, the big question among the Chargers about the appendectomy performed Wednesday on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel was whether four days would allow him enough recovery time to play Sunday's game at Qualcomm Stadium.

For the record, after first trying to explain away Cassel's absence from Wednesday practice to "illness," the Chiefs consider him as "questionable" for the Chargers showdown.

"We plan on him playing," said Chargers head coach Norv Turner. "I would expect him to play. If he doesn't, obviously, a lot of the things that they do are tied to their running game. They've got awfully good receivers, and the running backs are awfully good in the passing game. So, it will be a challenge."

K.C.'s backup quarterback is fifth-year veteran Brody Croyle, who hasn't thrown a pass in 2010 and last started a game nearly 15 months ago. In Croyle's nine career starts, the Chiefs have lost nine times.

The intensive nature of Cassel's health issue, though, would strongly suggest that Croyle's going to get his opportunity Sunday. Even if doctors used the less-invasive laparoscopic method on Cassel (the Chiefs did not offer any details), the American College of Surgeons website advises patients who have had a minimally invasive appendectomy not to "lift or participate in strenuous activity for three to five days" after the procedure."