SAN DIEGO — Left tackle Max Starks agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers to help protect Philip Rivers’ blind side.

Starks, who is 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, spent his first nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played every offensive snap for the Steelers last year despite tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Steelers’ playoff loss at Denver the previous season.

Starks moves into the starting left tackle spot for San Diego.