Sports

On one side, Justin Herbert. On the other, Aaron Rodgers. They’re two of the prettiest passers in NFL history, and they’ll be meeting Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.

Both the Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off victories, with the Chargers winning in Tennessee, and the Steelers forcing six turnovers to hand the Indianapolis Colts just their second loss.

The Chargers lost left tackle Joe Alt to a season-ending ankle injury and once again have to reshuffle an offensive line that has been in a constant state of flux.

Read more:Why NFL legends consider Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers virtuosos in the art of passing

Rodgers has rediscovered his spark in Pittsburgh and consistently puts the football in the right places.

How the Chargers can win: Protect Herbert with quick-developing pass routes that allow him to get the ball out of his hands. Pittsburgh’s edge rush of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig can create havoc if Herbert holds the ball too long. Attack the corners. Joey Porter Jr. has been penalty-prone, and Darius Slay isn’t as fast as he once was. The Steelers often struggle covering tight ends, so Oronde Gadsden II could be in line for a big game.

How the Steelers can win: Generate pressure and turnovers. When the Steelers force mistakes, they win. Let Watt and Highsmith collapse the pocket and make Herbert uncomfortable behind a patchwork Chargers line. Keep Rodgers clean and balanced with an efficient mix of Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren runs to control tempo. Defensively, stay disciplined in coverage with Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger as the new safety tandem.

Key injuries

Chargers: OT Bobby Hart (knee/ankle, out); CB Tarheeb Still (knee, doubtful); WR Keandre Lambert-Smith (hamstring, questionable); CB Benjamin St-Juste (groin, questionable); DL Da’Shawn Hand (groin, questionable); DB Deane Leonard (knee, questionable); LS Josh Harris (chest, questionable).

Steelers: G Isaac Seumalo (pectoral, out); S Jabrill Peppers (quadriceps, out); LB Cole Holcomb (illness, out); WR Scotty Miller (finger, out); CB Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring/knee, questionable).

How to watch and listen to Chargers vs. Steelers

The Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will play at 5:20 p.m. PST Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The game will be shown nationally on NBC and Universo and will be available for streaming on Peacock. In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on 640 AM and 105.5 FM (Español).

Betting odds and lines for Chargers vs. Steelers

Who will win Chargers vs. Steelers?

Sam Farmer’s pick: The Steelers have a knack for creating turnovers in bunches, they can get after the passer (especially one playing behind a patchwork line), and they tend to play well on national TV. So picking the Chargers doesn’t make a lot of sense. Still, I’m going to lean into the nonsensical here and say that Herbert has a big game at home against a pair of vulnerable corners, and the Chargers win by a field goal. Chargers 27, Steelers 24

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Trevor Penning couldn't help but smile and chuckle after arriving in the brisk El Segundo weather from New Orleans early Wednesday morning.

It was fewer than 24 hours after he'd been told of the trade of which he wasn't expecting, standing in front of his new end-of-the-hallway locker in the Chargers' clubhouse. A placard listing Penning's high school-recruiting rating, and the schools he attended, had yet to be placed atop his stall next to long snapper Josh Harris.

"It's pretty crazy — overnight," said the fourth-year offensive lineman, a former 2022 first-round draft pick of the Saints. "You get five more wins on [the record]. ... I'm excited to be here."

Read more:Why NFL legends consider Justin Herbert and Aaron Rodgers virtuosos in the art of passing

Penning, acquired by the Chargers (6-3) just before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday — New Orleans received a 2027 sixth-round draft pick in exchange for the 6-foot-7, 325-pound tackle — joins a team fighting with the Broncos atop the AFC West.

When the Northern Iowa alumnus checked into the Saints' facility Monday, he was on a team with the worst record (1-8) in the NFC.

Now, Penning will try to bolster the Chargers' protection of quarterback Justin Herbert, who has been sacked 28 times — third most among all NFL quarterbacks this season. The Chargers were in desperate need of a lineman after losing offensive tackle Joe Alt to a season-ending ankle injury.

"[Penning's] just getting the basics down of just getting our cadences and getting adjusted to our play calls and things like that," Herbert said. "Obviously, I've known of him, and obviously, [I'm] a big fan. A lot of respect for his game. It's a cool opportunity — I'm sure he'll pick up the offense very quickly."

Penning said that he, like many football players and fans, had been familiar with Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh's attitude and approach while growing up. The formerly unranked high school prospect from Clear Lake, Iowa — turned Missouri Valley Football Conference star — said he believed his traits on and off the field match the Chargers' culture.

Read more:Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: How to watch, prediction and betting odds

“It’s good to hear," Harbaugh said when asked about Penning's comments. "I like guys who like football. Guys who like football seem to like me back. ... [Penning] strikes me as a guy who's all about his business, and came in [and] has done everything right. Really happy that we have him on our team.”

The Chargers have worked Penning at both tackle spots during practice this week. He played left tackle in 2022 and 2023, right tackle in 2024, and some left guard in 2025.

Where and how Penning fits is still a question waiting to be answered, and Sunday's game against the Steelers could provide answers.

Penning is ready for the fresh start awaiting him.

"I'm excited to play anywhere they need me," Penning said. "I think I have the versatility."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.