Infection May Sideline Leaf

Ryan Leaf, the San Diego Chargers’ rookie quarterback, was taken to a hospital Thursday for treatment of a viral infection. He stayed overnight and the team said there was a chance he could practice today.

Leaf will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Kansas City.

Leaf was being given antibiotics intravenously, team spokesman Bill Johnston said.

If Leaf can’t start, the job would go to Craig Whelihan, who started the last seven games last season after Stan Humphries suffered a concussion. The Chargers (2-0) don’t have a third-string quarterback, having cut Casey Weldon before the season.

*

Jeff Hostetler returned to the Washington Redskins on Thursday and tried to set the record straight about his sudden departure the day before. His future with the team, however, remains unclear.

Clearly bothered by the way the Redskins handled his absence the day before, Hostetler said he cleared out his locker Wednesday and left the team because he thought he would be released after a talk with Coach Norv Turner.

“I was released, as far as I was concerned,” Hostetler said. “I didn’t leave in a huff. I didn’t come in, clean out my locker and quit, as was reported. It was a man-to-man conversation with Norv.”

Hostetler, a 15-year veteran who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants, is unhappy over his demotion to third-string quarterback. He said he asked for his release because he felt he was misled by Turner and didn’t see any prospect for playing time soon. He prepared to drive home to West Virginia, but ended up staying at his apartment Wednesday night after General Manager Charley Casserly called him to say his request hadn’t been granted.

That contradicts remarks made after practice Wednesday by Turner, who said Hostetler had not asked for his release.

*

The FBI is investigating the case of a Florida man who sneaked into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ locker room at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday allegedly carrying money and marijuana.

Raoul Farhat, 36, of Clearwater, Fla., is scheduled to be arraigned today on a felony burglary charge for allegedly taking a T-shirt and cap from the locker room. He was arrested after claiming to be a team doctor.