Chargers vs Panthers: How to watch, start time and prediction

It was the city where Jim Harbaugh’s playing career officially ended. Though he thought he had at least two more years of playing life ahead of him, Harbaugh knew it was time to trade in his helmet for a headset when he didn’t appear in a single game for the Carolina Panthers in 2001 as a 15-year-old quarterback.

“This is the football gods telling me we’re not going to play anymore,” Harbaugh said this week with a big grin.

Returning to Charlotte, N.C., with the Chargers, Harbaugh has had an even better second career. He was a success in his return to the NFL last week, as the Panthers, led by first-year head coach Dave Canales, flopped against the New Orleans Saints. Canales, who was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, lost 47-10 in his head coaching debut.

With their opponents struggling, the Chargers have a chance to get off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2012.

Major injuries

Chargers: WR DJ Chark Jr. (hip; on the injured list. Has missed one of at least four games); S Alohi Gilman (knee; questionable); OLB Joey Bosa (back; questionable); CB Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula; questionable); WR Joshua Palmer (knee; questionable); RB Hassan Haskins (toe; questionable).

Panthers: P Johnny Hecker (back; questionable); G Damien Hunt (groin; questionable); TE Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back; questionable); RB Raheem Blackshear (personal; questionable); OT Taylor Moton (back/knee; questionable).

How to Watch Chargers vs. Panthers

The Chargers play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 10 a.m. PDT at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The game will be broadcast in Southern California on CBS and Paramount+, in addition to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. Fans in Southern California can tune in on 98.7 FM and 105.5 FM.

Chargers vs. Panthers Betting Lines

Who will win the Chargers vs. Panthers game?

Thuc Nhi Nguyen’s choice: To add insult to injury to Week 1’s disaster, the Panthers lost star defenseman Derrick Brown to a knee injury against the Saints, leaving Carolina vulnerable to the Chargers’ running game, which is looking to build on last week’s success. Chargers 28, Panthers 17

Sam Farmer’s choice: It’s tough to travel across the country, but the Chargers aren’t going to give up and they’re going to feed JK Dobbins. The Panthers are terrible and they just lost their best player, DT Derrick Brown, for the season. Chargers 27, Panthers 13

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.