Bolts release five

NFL teams had to trim their rosters to 75 players by Tuesday afternoon, and the Chargers waived five players to reach the number.

Quarterback Casey Bramlet, wide receiver Billy Pittman, tight end John Tereshinski, wide receiver Marco Thomas and punter/kicker Billy Vinnedge were notified of their release by Head Coach Norv Turner.

Pittman, Tereshinski and Vinnedge joined the Chargers in May as undrafted rookie free agents. Bramlet and Thomas had previously spent time with other clubs. Bramlet was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2004 and had stints with Washington, Atlanta and Miami. Thomas spent time on the practice squads of the Giants, Raiders and Jets as a rookie in 2007.

The Chargers close out their preseason schedule Friday night when they travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers. More difficult decisions will loom this Saturday as teams must again shrink their rosters, this time to 53 players. Next Sunday, they’ll be able to sign eight players to their practice squad.