DATE: Saturday, August 16, 1997             TAG: 9708160590

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ATLANTA                           LENGTH:   72 lines

REDSKINS PLAYING MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH WIDE RECEIVERS HARPER AND ELLARD SLATED TO START TONIGHT; WESTBROOK, SHEPHERD SET FOR NEXT WEEK.

Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner evidently likes the merry-go-round ride on which he's placed his four top receivers. He's keeping Alvin Harper, Michael Westbrook, Henry Ellard and Leslie Shepherd on it again tonight when the Redskins meet the Atlanta Falcons in the team's third preseason game.

Harper and Ellard, who started Washington's preseason opener at Tampa Bay, will open with the first unit tonight.

Westbrook and Shepherd, who started last Saturday night at Tennessee, are slated to start next Thursday's preseason finale at Miami.

Who starts on Aug. 31 in the regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers remains in question.

Turner not only wouldn't answer that, he asked members of the press to tell him which pair he started against the Oilers before answering who would start tonight.

``They're all going to play,'' Turner replied when asked who would get the nod against the Panthers, ``so we'll make a decision that week and it'll probably change week to week.''

The significance of this, one supposes, is that it leaves open the possibility that Westbrook, a former No. 1 draft pick, might not be in the starting lineup on opening night. The fact that Westbrook leads the team with five catches for 67 yards and has had some brilliant practices didn't seem to faze the head coach.

``All four of the guys are starters, so I'm sure through 16 games, all of them are going to have opportunities to start,'' said Turner, acknowledging that Westbrook might have to sit occasionally.

Westbrook was nonchalant when asked to respond to Turner's remarks.

``Maybe he just doesn't want anyone knowing what he's thinking,'' Westbrook said. ``I'm not worried about it.''

Turner went out of his way to praise the job linebacker Marvcus Patton has done acclimating himself from the outside position to the middle spot occupied last year by Rod Stephens.

``You've got to give him a lot of credit,'' Turner said. ``He's stepped in and made a nice adjustment and strengthened us in that spot.''

Patton played some inside linebacker in Buffalo's 3-4 defense before signing a free-agent contract with Washington three years ago.

``It was a little difficult at first, because I hadn't been in there in a couple of years,'' Patton said. ``But I feel comfortable there now.''

EXTRA POINTS: The Redskins will get their first look at defensive tackle Chris Mims tonight. Mims, who came over as a free agent from San Diego, has missed the first two preseason games, recovering from minor knee surgery conducted the first week of camp. But Mims, who had 11 sacks two seasons ago and is being counted on to take up some of the slack from Sean Gilbert's absence, came through some light workouts Wednesday and Thursday at Frostburg okay. ``He's a little cautious about this game,'' trainer Bubba Tyer said, ``because it's on artifical turf. There's some very slight swelling in the knee, but he's doing good and we're anxious to see how everything goes.'' ... Two other defensive linemen will play despite injuries. Tackle Marc Boutte, who has successfully staved off having surgery for a loose piece of cartilage in his knee, is expected to play some tonight. And defensive end Kelvin Kinney, who technically suffered a broken ankle last week against Tennessee (it's a tiny, hairline crack that has been classified a sprain) also will see playing time. ... Among those who won't play are guards Bob Dahl and Tre' Johnson, tight end Jamie Asher, running backs Terry Allen and Stephen Davis and safety Brian Walker. All the injured remained behind while the rest of the team arrived in Atlanta Friday. Today and Sunday, they will work with strength coach Dan Riley. ``Normally, Norv likes to have the injured players with him, especially the quarterbacks, because there's always the possibility one of them will see something we can use,'' Tyer said. ``But at this stage of the season, it's more important to get these guys healthy and back onto the field. The best way is to have them stay here with Dan.'' ... Thursday's game from Miami will be shown in Hampton Roads on ESPN. Tonight's game is on radio (WNIS) only.

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