Having coached with them from 2007-10, Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has kept track of the Chargers, who Sunday will face Carolina in Charlotte.
From afar, Rivera said he senses that injuries, a topic that gets a lot of play in San Diego, have hit recent Bolts teams hard.
Rivera, in comments to San Diego reporters Wednesday — the same day team Chairman Dean Spanos had a meeting with Mayor Kevin Faulconer — also mentioned a second challenge he believes the Chargers (5-7) have faced.
“The other thing that’s kind of hurt them a little bit too is, I don’t want to call it a distraction, but wanting to get a new stadium,” Rivera said.