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Chargers cut Sorensen, Reese, others

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The Chargers trimmed their roster Friday.

They aren’t finished yet.

Reserve quarterback Brad Sorensen, a 2013 seventh-round draft choice, was waived as the team began cutting from 75 to 53 players. Sources also said wide receiver Tevin Reese, a rookie seventh-round pick, was among the others waived. All NFL teams must be down to 53 come Saturday at 1 p.m. PT. As of Friday, the Chargers were at about 63.

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Key roster questions in San Diego have been answered.

The Chargers will retain two, not three, quarterbacks this year. Veterans Philip Rivers and Kellen Clemens compose the depth chart. Sorensen, 26, is eligible for the 10-man practice squad, but it’s unclear whether that is forthcoming. He was 22-for-39 with 159 yards and two picks in four exhibition games.

Michael Harris and Willie Smith competed throughout camp for the swing tackle job. On Friday, Harris was informed he won it, sources said.

This victory is the latest for Harris, a former UCLA undrafted free agent. In 2012, he saw starter reps as a rookie and applied the experience to improve in his second season. Last October, he suffered a season-ending ankle surgery that required reconstructive surgery.

Nothing has been given to Harris. Yet, he keeps earning his way.

While the Chargers don’t plan to announce cuts until around Saturday’s league deadline, sources said that defensive ends Doug Worthington and Joe Kruger and cornerback Crezdon Butler were part of the group cut Friday. That defensive end Tenny Palepoi survived the early wave bodes well for him. He can play both end spots as well as nose tackle. Should he make the club, the streak for an undrafted rookie making the 53-man roster will extend to 18 seasons.

Lastly, Tourek Williams may have secured the No. 5 outside linebacker job.

That’s based on his Thursday performance against the Cardinals and how coach Mike McCoy praised it the next afternoon. Williams competed as part of a group featuring Thomas Keiser and former CFLer Cordarro Law.

“He had a great offseason, worked extremely hard,” McCoy said. “He’s a great example of a young player who got experience last year, kind of figured it out on the run on how to play. ... Coming into the shape he did in training camp, you just saw his growth. He’s still got a ways to go, but I think he’s headed in the right direction, and I think (Thursday) night was a perfect example of that.”

Other questions are unanswered.

As of Friday, running backs Marion Grice and Branden Oliver are both on the roster. Only one is expected to remain at 1 p.m., presuming the team keeps a fourth back behind Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown. Oliver seems to have compiled a better body of work in recent months, but Grice played well Thursday.

Safety Alden Darby also graded out well versus the Cardinals. At worst, the Arizona State undrafted rookie is expected to be the practice squad. He’s on the bubble. Among the undrafted rookie wide receivers, Javontee Herndon suffered an undisclosed injury Thursday and did not return. Health allowing, he and Torrence Allen are in the practice-squad conversation.

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