BANGED-UP CHARGERS: San Diego, like Carolina, dealt with lots of injuries in the preseason. Unlike the Panthers, the Chargers are still feeling the effects. The offensive line was hit especially hard: C Nick Hardwick (foot) and Pro Bowl LT Marcus McNeill (neck) aren't expected to play today. The Chargers did sign Jeremy Newberry, who started 14 games for Oakland last season, to take Hardwick's place. But it should give Panthers DE Julius Peppers a decided advantage over McNeill's replacement, L.J. Shelton. Then there's LB Shawne Merriman, who decided to play this season despite a badly injured knee.

CAN HE HACKETT? Panthers WR D.J. Hackett is expected to play after missing much of the preseason with a toe injury. He'll add depth to a very thin receiving corps that figures to suffer significantly while Steve Smith serves his two-game suspension. Despite a limited amount of practice, Hackett needs to get up to speed quickly to help out Muhsin Muhammad and Dwayne Jarrett.

RIVERS' RECOVERY: Chargers QB Philip Rivers is coming off knee surgery. Mobility, however, has never been Rivers' forte. He'll be most comfortable staying in the pocket.

MATCHUP

THOMAS DAVIS

PANTHERS LB

Davis moves to weakside LB this season and the switch seems ideal for defending an elusive runner Tomlinson who is also a threat as a receiver. Davis is the Panthers' fastest linebacker and is free to pursue the ball carrier from his new position, without having to shed the blocks of the tight end and offensive linemen.

Davis had 85 tackles, three sacks and forced two fumbles last season.

LADAINIAN TOMLINSON

CHARGERS RB

Tomlinson, who led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,474 yards and was the league's MVP in 2006, is best in the open field, which is where he will usually find Davis.

Davis can't do it himself, though. Tomlinson has 14 runs over 50-plus yards in his career, including an 85-yarder for a touchdown against Kansas City in 2006. It'll be important for Panthers defenders to not over-pursue.

PANTHERS INSIDER

Running back DeAngelo Williams is usually a pretty even-keeled guy. But he got a little fired up earlier this week when he was asked -- for probably the 1,000th time over the past month -- if the Panthers' running attack will need to step up today in the absence of the suspended Steve Smith.

"It seems that you all want to downgrade the fact that we have [receivers] Muhsin Muhammad, Dwayne Jarrett and D.J. Hackett," Williams said. "I consider that a slap in the face.

"With Steve out, the game will be on all our shoulders. With Jake [Delhomme] back there, he's a sharpshooter.

"We'll be balanced. I don't they'll come after us and pack the box [to stop the run]. I don't see that. I honestly don't."

THE LIST

Panthers coach John Fox went to high school in Chula Vista, Calif., near San Diego. He attended San Diego State, then later was an assistant coach for the Aztecs and at U.S. International in San Diego. He also was an assistant for the Chargers in 1992-93.

Here are Fox's four best things about living in San Diego, which is usually near or at the top of the list of America's most livable cities:

1. THE WEATHER: "It's perfect. It doesn't get humid and stays the same the year-round."

2. THE PACIFIC OCEAN: "I enjoy the water, whether it's the ocean or lakes. And it's got to be some of the prettiest coastline in the world."

3. THE SAN DIEGO ZOO: "That's probably the coolest zoo I've been to."

4. MEXICAN FOOD: "I love Mexican food. You can get great stuff in San Diego or go down to Mexico for it. You had fish tacos out there way before the rest of the country knew about them."

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