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Kellen Clemens gives Chargers a look

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Kellen Clemens knows the Rams well.

The Chargers reserve quarterback spent the past three years in St. Louis, the most recent two under head coach Jeff Fisher, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti. All remain in place.

He started nine games in 2013. He threw for 1,673 yards.

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These facts aren’t arbitrary.

“You can tell,” cornerback Shareece Wright said.

This week, Clemens is preparing his current team to face his old one. The Chargers scout-team offense, filled with reserve and practice-squad players, each game week runs plays of the opposing offense to simulate what the defense may encounter on game day. Clemens has led the effort for Sunday’s game against the Rams.

It is helpful, someone with his command of an opposing offense.

“He knows where they want to go, what they want to do,” Wright said. “It’s an accurate look, so we should be prepared. He knows their system. ... It’s good to have him here.”

Clemens acknowledged this week is unlike any other in terms of his ability to simulate an opponent. There are many similarities to the offense he ran in 2013 and the one the Chargers defense will see at Qualcomm Stadium.

But he’s the first to insist all that can be overblown.

There have been some changes, some differences in personnel. Ultimately, he isn’t the one playing for the Rams on Sunday.

Shaun Hill is expected to start his second straight game. Last week, he went 20-for-29 with 220 yards and a score in a surprise 22-7 win over the Broncos.

Clemens balances simulating Hill with preparing for the potential scenario in which he may be needed to enter a game in relief. While running Rams plays, he likens them to those in the Chargers playbook, the closest to real practice reps he’ll get during a normal week.

“I’m able to attack the defense and try to read it like it’s Sunday and I’m out there,” Clemens said. “That’s really the only way that you can do it, otherwise you’re wasting time. . ... You have that responsibility to your teammates to do what you can do to get better and be ready to play. As a backup, you’re one play away. That’s your job. Your job is to be ready.”

Injury update

Jahleel Addae has made progress from a concussion.

On Thursday, his participation level took a step backward.

The Chargers safety was listed as limited in practice. A full participant on Wednesday, he seemed poised to play this weekend for the first time since the Oct. 23 concussion in Denver.

Addae’s official game status will be announced Friday after practice.

The 53-man roster otherwise is the picture of health.

Nose tackle Sean Lissemore (quad) practiced for the second straight day. He didn’t play the Raiders on Sunday due to the ailment, which he suffered Nov. 2 in Miami.

Only two did not practice.

Nose tackle Ryan Carrethers continues to rest the right elbow he dislocated Sunday. Center Rich Ohrnberger missed his second straight practice with an ankle injury suffered against Oakland. He’s also listed with a back injury, which has lingered for the bulk of the season.

Nuts ‘n’ Bolts

• The Broncos defense watched film of sharks hunting seals to emphasize takeaways leading up to Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano said that he had a special teams coach in college who, to simulate punt coverage, showed lions using angles to hunt antelope. He doesn’t use similar tactics. “We’ve just got to do it out on the field,” Pagano said.

• Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney returned to practice. He was given his weekly rest day Wednesday.

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