Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is facing an ankle injury for the second time this season, causing him to miss practice on Wednesday as the team prepares for its upcoming game against Tampa Bay.
Herbert sustained the injury during the first quarter of last Sunday’s 19-17 loss to Kansas City, when he scrambled for a 7-yard gain on a third down. He was seen grimacing and limping off the field after the play. “It was difficult to play with,” Herbert remarked. “We limited some of the runs out of the pocket. I didn’t feel great, but it was one of those things to play through.”
In addition to the ankle injury, Herbert also suffered a bruise to his left leg after a hard hit from linebacker Nick Bolton in the second quarter. Despite these challenges, he completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown, missing only one play during the game.
Regarding his current condition, Herbert stated, “The contusion is easily recoverable. I’m doing everything I can with the ankle. If I felt like I could practice at 100% and ensure everyone was able to get full-speed reps, I would have. I didn’t think I was able to do that today, so the trainers and I were on the same page.” Notably, Herbert is not in a walking boot this time, unlike with his previous injury. He also mentioned that the pain from this ankle injury is more manageable compared to earlier in the season.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh expressed confidence in Herbert’s determination, saying, “I’d like to see him get treatment and not be on his feet. He will do everything in his power to play on Sunday.”
The Chargers, currently holding the sixth seed in the AFC with an 8-5 record, have lost two of their last three games. Following Sunday’s matchup against NFC South-leading Tampa Bay, Los Angeles will host Denver in a crucial Thursday night game on December 19, as both teams aim for playoff berths.
This marks the second time in three seasons that Herbert has dealt with an injury following a game against Kansas City. In 2022, he fractured rib cartilage after a hit from Chiefs defensive lineman Michael Danna. He also missed two weeks of training camp due to a plantar fascia injury in his right foot and has faced other injuries, including a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder and two broken fingers last season.
Despite these setbacks, Herbert has maintained an impressive performance on the field. He has joined Tom Brady as the only players in NFL history to go 11 consecutive games without throwing an interception, with a minimum of 15 attempts in each game. His last interception occurred on September 15 against Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, and he has since completed 335 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, marking the fifth-longest streak in league history.
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