ENGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert broke the index finger on his right hand in the second quarter of Los Angeles’ 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, jeopardizing his streak of 62 consecutive regular season starts. A short week for his struggling team.
Coach Brandon Staley said the Chargers’ medical staff will conduct more tests before determining whether Herbert will miss their next game Thursday in Las Vegas, but the $252 million quarterback did not sound particularly optimistic.
“It’s obviously difficult,” said Herbert, who had a splint on his finger. “You feel bad for hanging the team like that. You would never want to be taken out of the game. It’s something we’ll learn more about as the week goes on, and if there’s any opportunity to play, I’ll do everything I can to be there. I’ll do everything I can in the treatment room to get back to 100 %”.
After falling on the sidelines of the Asian playoffs last month with four defeats in five games, the Chargers (5-8) have only three days to prepare for the invaders. If Herbert can’t play, backup Easton Stick will likely become the Chargers’ fourth starting quarterback since 2007.
Philip Rivers started 240 consecutive games before leaving the Chargers after the 2019 season, and Tyrod Taylor started one game before Herbert took over as starter in Week 2 of the 2020 season after Taylor accidentally punctured his lung with a pain-killing bullet before the game.
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Herbert had only missed a handful of snaps in his four seasons with the Chargers before Sunday, when he was unable to catch the ball after an X-ray confirmed he had a broken finger.
Herbert was 9 of 17 for 96 yards with an interception against the Broncos before he was injured, apparently while being taken down awkwardly by Denver’s Zach Allen after completing a pass to Donald Parham.
“I can’t remember if it hit a helmet or if it hit someone’s shoulder pads,” Herbert said.
Herbert was sacked four times and hit six times over the Chargers’ first six possessions, as his teammates repeatedly lost blocks to Denver’s attackers. Los Angeles’ offense struggled even before the injury, going scoreless with Herbert having an interception and turning the ball over on two downs.
The Chargers went 0-for-12 on third downs and 1-for-6 on fourth downs.
The only other quarterback on the Chargers’ active roster was Stick, a two-time NFL starter in five seasons with Los Angeles before replacing Herbert with 1:52 remaining in the first half. Stick went 13 of 24 for 179 yards in Herbert’s place, and the Bolts scored on just one of their five shots in the second half as Denver pulled away.
“Once he got his feet under him, I thought he did some good things, especially in the second half,” Staley said of Steck. I think he moved the team and gave us a chance. It was good for him to get involved in the flow of the game, because when you go in there cold, it’s hard to get in there right away and move. “There will be some things in the second half that we can build on.”
Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft, has been known for his durability in his career.
He suffered a fractured middle finger on his left hand late in the third quarter of the game against Las Vegas on Oct. 1 when he was caught in the helmet of Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby after he threw a pass that was intercepted by Trevon Moehrig. Herbert wore a splint on his hand during the fourth quarter.
Herbert also didn’t miss any time last year when he fractured his rib cartilage during a Week 2 game at Kansas City.
Herbert signed a five-year, $252.5 million extension during the offseason.
The stick’s best throw was a 57-yard strike to rookie Quentin Johnston during the fourth quarter. Four plays later, Austin Ekeler put Los Angeles on the board with a 4-yard TD run, but that was the Chargers’ only touchdown of the past two weeks.
“Obviously I haven’t played in a while, but that’s part of the job,” said Steck, who won 49 games and was part of four FCS national championship teams at North Dakota State. “I’ve been here – five years – and I’ve got to watch Justin. I’ve watched Philip play and he’s played really well. That’s the standard. I just go out and try to compete, do my best.”
Behind Stick, rookie quarterback Max Duggan is the only other quarterback currently on the Bolts’ roster.
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The NFL community was left in shock as news broke that Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had suffered a fracture in his right index finger. The star player’s status for the upcoming Thursday game is now uncertain, leaving fans and analysts alike anxiously awaiting updates on his condition. This unexpected setback has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the Chargers’ upcoming game, as they may potentially be without their key offensive leader. The team and their supporters are hoping for a swift recovery for Herbert, but for now, all eyes are on his health and the impact it may have on the team’s performance.