Dolphins deal WR Chambers to Chargers for second-rounder

SAN DIEGO -- The next time Chris Chambers steps into a huddle, his teammates will include LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers.

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"Oh man, it's a pleasure," Chambers said after he was traded from the winless Miami Dolphins to the defending AFC West champion San Diego Chargers just before Tuesday's deadline. "It's going to be very interesting. I can't wait to get out there and help this team win and continue to be successful."

Chambers is expected to join the Chargers at practice on Wednesday. The Chargers, 3-3 and tied for the division lead with Kansas City, have their bye this Sunday.

San Diego gave up a 2008 second-round draft pick for Chambers, who will give Rivers a veteran wide receiver to work with and help take the pressure off All-Pros Tomlinson and Gates.

Not long after Chargers general manager A.J. Smith made the deal with Miami, he put No. 1 wideout Eric Parker on the injured reserve list with a broken right big toe. Parker has been out since June, and will miss the rest of the season.

"It was a late development," Smith said. "One receiver down, one receiver in. We had an opportunity to add a quality, experienced, productive guy and felt we couldn't pass it up. We like him a lot. We've held him in high regard throughout his career."

Chambers has 31 receptions for 415 yards and no touchdowns this season. He was a second-round choice by Miami in 2001 -- the same year Tomlinson was the No. 5 overall pick by the Bolts. He enjoyed his best season in 2005, when he made 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 scores, and was voted to the Pro Bowl.

Reunited with Chargers coach Norv Turner, who was Miami's offensive coordinator in 2002-03, Chambers will bolster an otherwise young and undistinguished wide receiving corps. Signed through 2009, the durable Chambers has missed only two games in his career.

"He's a guy who's going to come in right away and he's going to be able to help us," Turner said.

The Chargers hope the acquisition of Chambers means an end to teams stacking eight men in the box against Tomlinson or double-teaming Gates, the tight end -- although Tomlinson made the Raiders pay on Sunday by rushing for 198 yards and scoring four touchdowns in a 28-14 win.

Tomlinson, frustrated earlier this season when the offense struggled during a stunning three-game losing streak, smiled when he spoke about Chambers.

"Very happy about it," the reigning NFL MVP said. "I think we all know what type of player Chris is. He's going to take the pressure off a lot of us on this offense. Obviously, the receiving group, meaning Gates, Vincent, he's going to take a lot of pressure off them guys, even Philip, having another target to throw to.

"As far as the running game, he's going to help us out in that, too. Teams are going to have to really now choose, if you want to want to play eight men in the box and leave them guys one-on-one. In the famous words of T.O., get your popcorn ready."