The Los Angeles Chargers have welcomed offensive lineman Trevor Penning following a trade with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday, raising immediate questions about his role ahead of their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With his new uniform number, 64, and a locker at the team’s training facility, attention now turns to whether Penning will make his debut on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Coach Jim Harbaugh expressed uncertainty regarding Penning’s playing status for the Sunday night match. While he indicated that the first week of practice will help determine Penning’s best position, he did not clarify whether Penning would fill a spot at left tackle, right tackle, or right guard. “That’s what the week of practice will be for, to figure out exactly where Trevor fits in best,” Harbaugh stated.
Penning, a first-round draft pick selected 19th overall by the Saints in 2022, began his career at left tackle but has experienced a series of position changes due to injuries. He played left tackle in 2022, shifted to right tackle in 2024, and was moved to left guard for the current season. Harbaugh praised Penning’s versatility, noting that he can effectively play both guard and tackle positions.
The Chargers are particularly in need of assistance on the offensive line, especially at left tackle, where Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are sidelined by season-ending injuries. Slater’s knee injury occurred during training camp in August, while Alt suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter of the Chargers’ recent victory over the Tennessee Titans.
In light of these injuries, Penning could potentially step in for Alt at left tackle or replace Bobby Hart at right tackle, who is also nursing injuries sustained in the same game against the Titans. Hart did not participate in practice on Wednesday, leaving his availability for the Steelers game uncertain. Additionally, the Chargers are seeking depth at right guard due to Mekhi Becton’s ongoing knee issues, which prevented him from playing in the win over Tennessee.
During his first practice with the Chargers, Penning quickly acclimated to his new environment, having flown in from New Orleans just hours earlier. He remarked on the rapid changes he has experienced, saying, “Seeing other guys, seeing my teammates be traded and hearing from them what it’s all like… it’s pretty crazy. It’s pretty crazy (going from a team that’s 1-8 to one that’s 6-3). I’m excited to be here.”
Special Teams Struggles Continue
As the Chargers prepare for Week 10, their special teams unit sits among the worst in the NFL. Currently, they rank 32nd in both average yards allowed per punt return (18 yards) and kickoff return (29.3 yards). They also average 7.1 yards per punt return (29th) and 25.3 yards per kickoff return (21st).
The special teams unit faced a setback during the recent game against the Titans, which included a significant 67-yard punt return that gave Tennessee a brief lead. Harbaugh dismissed the idea that roster changes have contributed to the unit’s poor performance, including the offseason loss of special teams standout Nick Niemann and the recent trade of another key player, Ja’Sir Taylor, to the New York Jets.
“I just think we need to be better,” Harbaugh said, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “We need to coach it better. It comes down to what we’re doing scheme-wise. We look at that. We look at who’s doing it. We look at how they’re doing it. We make sure we’ve got the best, highly motivated guys that can win those one-on-one matchups. That’s what it comes down to in special teams. We’ve got to get better.”
As the Chargers gear up for their crucial matchup against the Steelers, the integration of Trevor Penning into the offensive line and improvements in special teams will be critical factors in their quest for victory.
