The touchdowns were nice, especially the first one, of course. But on the play that welcomed Jacob Hester to the National Football League, the play that told him he could just go on and play for as long as his career would take him, he didn't even have the ball in his hands.

“My first block was against (Dallas Cowboys linebacker) Zach Thomas,” said the Chargers' rookie fullback after last night's first exhibition game. “That guy's been to so many Pro Bowls. Once you do that, nothing really worries you any more.”

While other young players around him must worry about how they played last night and whether it made or broke them with the Chargers, Hester can be reasonably assured of a place in even an offense as high-powered and versatile as San Diego's. The third-round draft choice did last night what he did to attract the Chargers' attention, scoring from short yardage, and more than once.

In the process of leading the Chargers in rushing with 49 yards on 13 carries, including a 21-yard burst in which he displayed both open-field elusiveness and an NFL-calibre stiff-arm, Hester scored a 1-yard run against regulars in the first quarter and a 2-yard run against backups in the third quarter.

Plan for Rivers

Surprising as it was to see quarterback Philip Rivers play four series and into the second quarter – twice as much as he did in last year's exhibition opener – it still was less than the Chargers had intended.

“I was going to play him a half,” said head coach Norv Turner. “That was our plan coming into this game. We go on Astroturf next week (at St. Louis) and I don't know how much I want to play him down there.”

Kaeding has leg

Known more for the accuracy than the distance of his kicks, Nate Kaeding said he spent his offseason working to improve both his mental and physical strength. The latter was quite apparent last night as Kaeding easily cleared the crossbar with a 53-yarder in his first attempt.

“It's especially good to have the first one be a long one,” said Kaeding. “I feel great, honestly, as good as I've felt going into any of my five seasons.”

Takeaways are key

When it was first teams against first teams – and that was pretty much just one quarter – the Chargers immediately reverted to their modus operandi of 2007 in one very important respect.

Turnovers. Specifically, takeaways.

Both of San Diego's first two touchdowns came on the heels of Dallas turnovers. With the Cowboys leading 7-0, Paul Oliver of the Chargers knocked the ball loose from Danny Amendola and Brandon Siler recovered at the Dallas 31, leading eventually to Jacob Hester's 1-yard touchdown run. Seven seconds into the second quarter, Quentin Jammer intercepted Brad Johson to set up Darren Sproles' go-ahead touchdown of 5 yards.

Nuts 'n' Bolts

 Center Nick Hardwick was on the sideline in tennis shoes and a brace on his right foot, not the protective boot he had worn the previous week.

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Chris Jenkins: (619) 293-1267; chris.jenkins@uniontrib.com