It’s been a strong start to the season for veteran outside linebackers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Burns leads the team with four sacks, while the two of them are tied with a team-high five quarterback hits. While his stats don’t jump off the page quite like the other two, Abdul Carter has had solid production through the first three games of his NFL career.

Carter has only a half-sack heading into Week 4, but the 21-year-old has been getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Carter (11) is right behind Burns (13) and Thibodeaux (12) in quarterback pressures, with no fewer than three in any game thus far. The rookie’s versatility has also been on display, as the No. 3 overall pick lined up at off-ball linebacker for a good amount of Week 3 due to the team’s injuries at the position. This came after he spent a majority of his snaps the first two games on the defensive line.

“He put a lot of work in last week to get ready to go and I thought he played well,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Thursday about the rookie linebacker. “Just where we were at numbers wise with the injuries kind of piling up at that position. Him having experience there, finding ways to get him on the field, maximize getting all three of those guys on the field as best we could. But I felt like he was impactful when he had some opportunities. And again, to really take it in in one week and to be able to go out there and execute like he did, I was really pleased and impressed with him for what he was able to do for our defense and our team.”

The Chargers’ 10 sacks allowed are tied with the Bengals for the sixth-most in the league. Joe Alt, who has been filling in for the injured Rashawn Slater at left tackle, has been dominant in 2025, but Trey Pipkins on the right side has struggled in pass protection. Pipkins is listed on the injury report with a knee injury he dealt with during last week’s game. He was limited in Wednesday’s practice, while guard Mekhi Becton (concussion) and center Bradley Bozeman (back) were both sidelined.

CB Paulson Adebo/CB Cor’Dale Flott/CB Dru Phillips

I’m cheating a little by going with the Giants’ three starting cornerbacks for the final spot. Considering the matchup, though, it makes sense. The three corners lead the team in pass breakups through three games, with Dru Phillips registering four, and Paulson Adebo and Cor’Dale Flott right behind him with three apiece. Flott enters this week’s game having allowed just two receptions in each of the first three games, which has earned him a passer rating against of 79.4. Outside of the Week 2 thriller in Dallas, Adebo has been solid in coverage, having allowed six receptions for 50 yards in Weeks 1 and 3, which included a matchup against Washington’s Terry McLaurin. As for Phillips, it’s been a bumpy start to his second season, but the 23-year-old has a big opportunity to bounce back this weekend.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has looked great this season with a 6-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio to go with his league-high 860 passing yards. Herbert has spread the ball around to each of his top three wideouts, which has made it difficult for opposing defenses to match up against them. Keenan Allen leads the team with 19 receptions, which he’s taken for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Quentin Johnston has a team-high 239 yards on 14 receptions, along with three touchdowns himself. Not to be forgotten is last year’s first-round pick, Ladd McConkey, who has 15 receptions for 163 yards. Covering these three talented wideouts might be the toughest challenge yet for the Giants’ secondary.

“He’s playing at a really high level right now,” Bowen said about Herbert. “Johnston’s coming on for him. He’s finding ways to get him the ball. Really, all three of those receivers are involved in the passing game. They’re all a little bit different.”