Injuries pile up

Williams, Bulaga and Harris Jr. join list of banged- up players.

The Chargers began Sunday minus seven players who were projected starters entering training camp.

Then they lost three more against Carolina — wide receiver Mike Williams ( hamstring), right tackle Bryan Bulaga ( back) and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. ( foot).

All three will be reevaluated Monday, the Chargers offering no medical updates after their 21- 16 loss.

Rookie quarterback Justin Herbert also had to leave at one point early in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to his ribs and having the wind knocked out of him.

Backup Easton Stick, who never has appeared in an NFL game, replaced Herbert. The Chargers used a timeout before snapping the ball again, however, allowing Herbert to return.

Herbert made his second career start in place of Tyrod Taylor, who is recovering from a punctured lung suffered in a pregame medical accident on Sept. 20. Taylor also is dealing with ribs that were fractured in the season opener.

The Chargers have given no timetable for Taylor’s return. But medical sources have indicated a typical recovery time for a punctured lung is four to six weeks.

In the red zone

Defensively, the Chargers kept the Panthers out of the end zone f ive times on six trips inside the 20- yard line. They also stopped nine of 12 third- down attempts.

“They kept the offense in the game,” coach Anthony Lynn said. “Overall, I thought they played their tails off.”

The one thing the Chargers didn’t do was generate turnovers. They have gone back- to- back games with no takeaways.

“We may have to get a little more aggressive with our calls,” Lynn said. “But our players also have to be a little more aware of when they can get those turnovers.”