The Sports Xchange

The San Diego Chargers’ top stadium counsel has confirmed that the team plans to file a request in January for relocation to Los Angeles.

Mark Fabiani, the point person on the Chargers’ stadium issue, told The Mighty 1090 AM radio show in San Diego on Friday night of the team’s intentions.

The Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams also are expected to file relocation papers in January. All three franchises are seeking stadium solutions in their current home market.

“At this point yes, because there’s no sign that the other team or teams are not going to file,” Fabiani said. “Everyone assumes all three teams will file, and in that case we can’t afford to lose our market in Los Angeles and Orange County.

“As you know, 25 percent of our season-ticket business comes from those markets. So we have to be able to protect those markets. That’s why as a last resort we went out and created the certain option we now have in Los Angeles. And if everything is moving ahead, we’re not going to be standing on the sidelines and watching everything go by. We’ve got to stay in the game to protect the future of the franchise.”

Teams are required to receive a three-fourths vote from NFL owners — or 24 of 32 owners — in order to be approved for relocation.

The league, which has not had an NFL team in Los Angeles since the Rams and Raiders departed for St. Louis and Oakland, respectively, in 1995, has two stadium proposals on the table.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s proposed $1.86 billion, 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on land he owns near Hollywood Park, could be completed by 2018. No other project is expected to be done before that, meaning the 2016 and 2017 seasons would be played by a potential relocated franchise in another venue.

The Chargers and Raiders have joined forces and proposed in February building a $1.7 billion NFL stadium in Carson.

—Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, did not make the trip with the rest of the team in order to get more rest.

A Cowboys spokesman told the Dallas Morning News that Bryant could still fly to New York on his own and so far hasn’t been downgraded from “doubtful” to “out.”

Bryant must be downgraded to out if he doesn’t fly to New York on his own sometime Saturday. The Cowboys left their Valley Ranch, Texas, headquarters on Friday afternoon for a special team trip to Ground Zero and the Freedom Tower.

Bryant has made progress from his broken foot but not enough to preclude him from likely missing his fifth consecutive game. Bryant was injured in the season-opening game against the Giants on Sept. 13.

—The New York Jets plan to sign veteran punter Steve Weatherford, according to multiple reports.

Current punter Ryan Quigley was placed on the team’s injury list Saturday as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots because of a shin injury.

By signing Weatherford, that indicates Quigley is not expected to play.

Weatherford most recently played for the New York Giants. The team cut him at the end of the preseason. He was due to make more than $2 million this season.

—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated defensive tackle Akeem Spence from the reserve/physically unable to perform list .

Spence, who has been on the reserve list since Sept. 1 because of a back injury, could play against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

In two seasons with Tampa Bay, Spence has started 19 of 32 games played, totaling 66 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks and three fumble recoveries.

The Bucs also waived offensive lineman Jeremiah Warren, who played in three games this season.

—Wide receiver Brandon Lafell was placed on the 53-man roster by the Patriots.

Lafell was activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list after being placed on the list on Sept. 5 because of a foot injury.

Last season, Lafell played in all 16 games, starting 13, and posted career highs of 74 receptions for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 13 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns in three post-season games.

—Quarterback/wide receiver Tyler Murphy of the Pittsburgh Steelers was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.

Murphy will back up Landy Jones, who will make his first NFL start Sunday at Kansas City after replacing Mike Vick (hamstring) last week. The Steelers hoped starter Ben Roethlisberger (knee), listed as questionable on the injury report, might return but apparently he is not ready.

The Steelers also placed cornerback Cortez Allen on the reserve/injured list.