Thursday’s “First Call” has an update on how the Los Angeles Chargers are dealing with injuries in advance of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

We also look back at the Chargers’ recent history at Acrisure Stadium. We get a preview of what Joey Porter Jr.’s assignment might be this weekend.

Plus, we check on how Brandon Aiyuk is doing so far in San Francisco.

Not just Justin

Justin Herbert isn’t the only player on the Chargers’ injury report worth tracking. The 26-year-old quarterback suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and did not practice Wednesday.

Early in the week, it was announced that X-rays on the right leg were negative, and coach Jim Harbaugh spun an optimistic narrative regarding Herbert’s status.

“I was in a meeting with him, and he said he was feeling much better and good today,” Harbaugh said Wednesday.

But there are others on the L.A. team that are banged up. Linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring), receiver Joshua Palmer (elbow/calf) and defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor (leg) all missed practice as well. So did former Steelers edge rusher Bud Dupree. He is sick.

As for threatening pass rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, they were both limited Wednesday. Mack was just resting. Bosa is noted as having a hip problem.

Bosa has two sacks this season. Mack has 1.5. Easton Stick is the Chargers’ backup at QB if Herbert can’t start.

History lesson

This is the Chargers’ first trip to Pittsburgh since 2018. That was the infamous Sunday night game on Dec. 2 of that year featuring a 23-7 blown second-half lead by the Steelers.

Future Steeler Desmond King helped the L.A. cause by returning a punt 73 yards for a touchdown.

The Chargers ended up winning 33-30, improving to 9-3. The Steelers fell to 7-4-1, their second of three straight losses. That year’s team started the 2018 campaign 7-2-1. It ended up 9-6-1 and missed the playoffs.

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The Steelers haven’t beaten the Chargers at home since a game in 2009 that Mike Tomlin’s team won 38-28. Rashard Mendenhall had 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Ben Roethlisberger had 333 yards (113 to Hines Ward) through the air, and two touchdowns to Heath Miller.

Porter plan

Steelers cornerback Joey Porter had a very clear job over the first two games — stick with the opponent’s top wide receiver wherever he goes and shut him down.

So far, Porter has done exactly that. Last week, Cortland Sutton caught just one pass for 26 yards. In Week 1, Drake London had only two catches for 15 yards.

This week, Porter isn’t so sure that the Chargers will designate one specific receiver as a primary threat. Through two games, Quentin Johnson has eight catches on 11 targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Ladd McConkey has seven catches on 11 targets for 65 yards and one touchdown.

Porter suggested he and Donte Jackson may just stay put on one-half of the field apiece.

“I don’t know that yet. But we are going to figure that out,” Porter said of his assignment this week. “I feel like it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day who is on who because I have a lot of respect for (Jackson) and what he can do on the field. So if he wants to play left or right it doesn’t really matter to me.”

Entering this game, the Steelers and Chargers have the two top scoring defenses in the NFL. The Chargers are allowing only 6.5 points per game. The Steelers have given up only eight per game.

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Checking in

After five months of chasing Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors, the wide receiver didn’t end up in Pittsburgh. He stayed in San Francisco to the tune of a new contract worth $120 million over four years.

But he missed all of training camp while working out the deal. Perhaps because of that Aiyuk is off to a slow start. The 26-year-old pass catcher has managed just six receptions and 71 yards through two weeks.

His snap count isn’t as high as it was last year. Via ProFootballTalk.com, Aiyuk has played only 73% of San Francisco’s offensive snaps so far in 2024. In 2023, Aiyuk played 82% of the snaps and averaged 84 receiving yards per game.

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However, Aiyuk told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week that he is starting to get back into football shape.

“I feel better. Another week. Another step,” Aiyuk said. “I liked just coming back (in Week 2) alive in the running game and just my feet a little better. Just having more fun.”

The 49ers (1-1) visit the Los Angeles Rams (0-2) this week. San Francisco will need more this week as both Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis/calf strain) and Deebo Samuel (calf) are sidelined.

It’s not like the Steelers wideouts aside from George Pickens are doing much either. Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin have combined for just five catches and 28 yards.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.