Justin Herbert ‘on observe to play’ to play Week 3

After laboring via the ultimate minutes of the Chargers’ Thursday recreation, Justin Herbert underwent a sequence of assessments. The scans didn’t reveal an damage that may drive the star quarterback to overlook a lot time, if any in any respect.

Brandon Staley stated Herbert suffered a rib cartilage fracture and referred to as his beginning QB “day-to-day.” Herbert is “seemingly on observe to play” within the Bolts’ Week 3 recreation, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reviews.

Whereas Staley famous it is a higher end result than a rib fracture, through Bridget Condon of NFL.com, a fracture of any form shouldn’t precisely be dismissed as a non-issue for the third-year passer. Herbert at one level handed on operating for a simple first down as he winced in ache close to the tip of the Chargers’ Kansas Metropolis tilt. After all, he then threw a strike to DeAndre Carter to arrange the Chargers close to the Chiefs’ objective line.

A sequence of rib fractures shut down Drew Brees for a stretch in 2020, however the then-Saints quarterback additionally suffered a collapsed lung. That set of accidents induced Brees to overlook 5 video games that season. Herbert does have an extended stretch to ramp up for Week 3 — a Chargers-Jaguars matchup — however Thursday’s visuals have been clearly regarding.

That is actually a pivotal yr for the Chargers, who’ve missed the playoffs in two of the three seasons during which Herbert have to be hooked up to a rookie contract. The Bolts aggressively upgraded their roster this offseason, including the likes of Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Kyle Van Noy and Bryce Callahan on protection. Herbert stays the centerpiece of Tom Telesco‘s plan. The previous No. 6 total decide turns into extension-eligible in 2023, however he may be saved on his rookie deal via 2024 through the fifth-year possibility. Most groups have opted for pre-Yr 4 extensions with star quarterbacks, so this season may very well be Herbert’s final on that rookie deal.