After laboring through the final minutes of the Chargers’ Thursday game, Justin Herbert underwent a series of tests. The scans did not reveal an injury that will force the star quarterback to miss much time, if any at all.
Brandon Staley said Herbert sustained a rib cartilage fracture and called his starting QB “day-to-day.” Herbert should have a decent chance of playing in the Bolts’ Week 3 game, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
While Staley noted (via Bridget Condon of NFL.com, on Twitter) this is a better outcome than a rib fracture, a fracture of any kind should not exactly be dismissed as a non-issue for the third-year passer. Herbert at one point passed on running for an easy first down as he winced in pain near the end of the Chargers’ Kansas City tilt. Of course, he then threw a strike to DeAndre Carter to set up the Chargers near the Chiefs’ goal line.
A series of rib fractures shut down Drew Brees for a stretch in 2020, but the then-Saints quarterback also suffered a collapsed lung. That set of injuries caused Brees to miss five games that season. Herbert does have a longer stretch to ramp up for Week 3 — a Chargers-Jaguars matchup — but Thursday’s visuals were obviously concerning.
This is certainly a pivotal year for the Chargers, who have missed the playoffs in two of the three seasons in which Herbert must be attached to a rookie contract. The Bolts aggressively upgraded their roster this offseason, adding the likes of Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Kyle Van Noy and Bryce Callahan on defense. Herbert remains the centerpiece of Tom Telesco‘s plan. The former No. 6 overall pick becomes extension-eligible in 2023, though he can be kept on his rookie deal through 2024 via the fifth-year option. Most teams have opted for pre-Year 4 extensions with star quarterbacks, so this season could be Herbert’s last on that rookie deal.
Should’ve been a penalty – drive him into the turf.
How was it a penalty?? Clean hit of ALL hits!
I love Herbert, but offensive line injuries let him down!!
J O. 2 yes I agree there should of been a penalty on CHEAP SHOT BOSA instead the Chiefs got the penalty even the overwhelming biased Kirk Sidestreet said he didn’t agree with that call. This team isn’t winning anything with the Buffoon Kiddie Klub coach of theirs.
Cartilage fracture, doesn’t sound serious at all. Ya right!
Clean hit hit Kelce was a dirty hit he got power bombed took 2 people
ted for pre-Year 4 extensions with star quarterbacks, so this season could be Herbert’s last on that rookie deal.
Justin Herbert sucks
There’s aChef’s fan!
Here’s a Chiefs fan that was at the game – Herbert does not suck. He’s actually a VERY good, young QB with a bright future. Sucked to see him get hurt. Didn’t suck to see my Chiefs win, but I do hope Herbert is good to go for week 3.
Nice snickers commercial reference. That one was classic
He’s barely getting started and already a top 10 qb. Who’s better than him ? Brady mahomes rodgers Allen think that about sums it up
I wonder what you think about Deshaun Watson?
As a human being Watson is garbage but there’s no denying he’s a top tier qb in the league. I’d say he’s top 10 or better yet was. Let’s see how he plays after this long away from the game. Still really young so I think he’ll be great, even though I’d prefer he was rotting in a jail cell the rest of his life
I wonder what you think about Matthew Stafford
Stafford I think is overrated. He played with one of the best WR in megatron and now has another WR who has risen to stardom in Kupp. Maybe overrated is the wrong word, I’d slot Stafford in the 8-15 range. The rams were absolutely stacked last year, I think Alex Smith could have led them to the championship
Interesting how no one is questioning the competence of the Chargers medical staff and/or head coach by returning Herbert to the game. That doesn’t seem like a wise move when it concerns your franchise QB.
This is an organization that sucked Philip Rivers dry for 16 seasons so we really shouldn’t be surprised if they attempt to do the same with Herbert.