Chargers release WR Eric Parker

SAN DIEGO (AP) -The Chargers released wide receiver Eric Parker on Wednesday, two days before their first full-squad practice.

The Chargers had been trying to trade Parker before veterans reported to camp Thursday night. Parker missed all of last season with a toe injury and became expendable after Chris Chambers was acquired in a midseason trade with Miami.

"We just decided to move on in another direction and wish him the best," general manager A.J. Smith said. "We tried to make some trades - things did not materialize."

Parker caught 187 passes for 2,586 yards and 11 touchdowns in parts of five seasons for the Chargers. He injured his right big toe during a minicamp practice 13 months ago and underwent surgery last August to fix a cracked bone. He was expected to be healthy in October but the toe didn't respond and he missed the season.

Coach Norv Turner said the timing of Parker's release works out for all parties.

"It gives him an opportunity to get with someone," Turner said. "We obviously had talked to different teams to see if there was an interest, and looking at our situation, eventually they knew this would happen.

"Now I'm sure he's going to get an opportunity to go play somewhere else."

Parker had a career-high 57 receptions in 2005 and caught 152 passes from 2004-06. In his final game with the Chargers, Parker made a costly miscue, fumbling a punt in a playoff loss to New England. The Patriots took advantage by scoring a field goal in a game they rallied to win by three points.

First-round draft pick Antoine Cason missed his third consecutive day of rookie practices. Cason, a cornerback from Arizona, was the 27th pick overall.