PITTSBURGH — A Dangerous Trend for Justin Herbert
For the second time in a mere six weeks, Justin Herbert finds himself in a walking boot. As the Los Angeles Chargers make their way back home after an extensive road trip, a crucial question arises: Who is stepping up to protect Herbert from his own relentless drive?
During the third quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Herbert exacerbated his right high ankle sprain. The pivotal moment came as he was sacked on the second drive of the half. Herbert executed a play-action drop back when linebacker Elandon Roberts surged in from his right side, catching Herbert off guard. While Roberts initially wrapped him up, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward finished the job from the left, leading to Herbert’s ankle being caught awkwardly amidst the chaos.
Struggling to move effectively, Herbert managed a handoff to J.K. Dobbins on the following second down, but that would mark the end of his day. He was replaced by Taylor Heinicke and did not return to the game. “I had a tough time walking on it, moving on it, pushing off of it,” Herbert admitted post-game.
This injury had been looming. Left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a left pectoral injury late in the first half. Although he received a brace in hopes of returning, Slater’s performance was compromised. On his second snap back in the game, he was soundly beaten on the outside by Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig, who had an unimpeded path to Herbert, leading to a strip-sack. Following this series, Slater was pulled from the game, unable to perform at full strength.
Herbert acknowledged that “a couple hits” contributed to his ankle’s aggravation. He had already spent much of training camp in a walking boot due to a plantar fascia injury affecting his right foot. “I pushed myself,” Herbert stated, “and I couldn’t go anymore.”
Questions Surrounding Herbert’s Participation
The Chargers are once again faced with a troubling question: Should Herbert have even been in the game? While one incident can be chalked up to bad luck or an isolated occurrence, two instances point to a concerning trend.
Reflect back to Week 3 of 2022. Herbert was still reeling from a fractured rib cartilage sustained in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs when the Chargers faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. Despite visible pain, he fought to play, but the game ended in disaster, resulting in long-term injuries for both Slater and edge rusher Joey Bosa. Even when the Jaguars led 38-10 late in the fourth quarter, Herbert returned for the final drive, enduring unnecessary hits. “I just didn’t want to quit on my team,” he explained after that game.
Fast forward almost two years, under the guidance of new coach Jim Harbaugh, Herbert remains a $262.5 million franchise quarterback. Yet, his remarkable toughness is leading him into perilous situations. Against the Jaguars, Herbert narrowly avoided disaster; against the Steelers, he did not.
Now, the only way to ascertain the severity of his injury is through an MRI. Herbert reflected a familiar sentiment: “My responsibility as a quarterback is to give everything I can to this team, to my teammates.” But sometimes, giving everything means recognizing when to take a step back for the greater good.
The Coach’s Dilemma
“I’ve been in that position before,” said Harbaugh, who has 14 years of experience as an NFL quarterback. “With warriors, you give them the shot. And that’s what I wanted to do.” Although Harbaugh did eventually remove Herbert from the game, the damage had already been inflicted. His decision came too late.
“My plan was the first sign of any limp, then he was coming out of the game,” Harbaugh said, emphasizing the need for caution. He clarified, “It wasn’t ever going to be his decision to play today or to stay in.”
Harbaugh’s choice to start Herbert was influenced by his performance during the Saturday walk-through, where he appeared to move better. Herbert himself stated he “really kind of tested” his ankle during practice and felt confident going into the game. However, signs of trouble were evident even during warm-ups, where he struggled to move laterally and execute throws effectively.
Despite completing 12 of 16 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in the first half, the situation deteriorated once Slater was injured. The Chargers were forced to shuffle their offensive line, moving Trey Pipkins III from right guard to left tackle, a position he hadn’t played in a game since 2021. The result was a significant drop in protection, culminating in three sacks during the final two drives after Heinicke took over.
Rookie right tackle Joe Alt, who was injured on the last offensive play, allowed a sack to Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt. “It was just a lot of moving pieces,” Pipkins noted. “We just got to be able to roll with the punches and do what we need to do whatever the circumstances are.”
Meanwhile, Heinicke managed to complete just two passes for 24 yards. “I wish we were giving him a little bit more time there to operate,” Harbaugh conceded.
The Chargers’ defense did their part to keep the team in the game, but they were on the field for over 20 minutes in the second half, ultimately breaking under pressure when Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III scored on a 55-yard touchdown.
In the waning moments of the game, the Chargers’ defense faltered, committing three penalties on a Steelers drive that culminated in a go-ahead field goal. Personal fouls from safety Derwin James Jr. and Khalil Mack on critical third downs played a significant role in the Chargers’ demise. “We just didn’t make enough plays on defense,” James acknowledged. “The drives were just bleeding us a lot today.”
Looking Ahead
Next week, the Chargers will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. Remarkably, they haven’t beaten the Chiefs at home since 2013, a game played in San Diego.
The narrative should revolve around Herbert and the revamped Chargers aiming to make a statement against Patrick Mahomes, attempting to level the playing field in a rivalry that has been lopsided for over a decade.
Instead, the focus shifts to Herbert’s ankle—an injury that could have been avoided. Herbert’s unwavering determination to play through pain is commendable, but it’s the organization’s responsibility to safeguard its most valuable asset. They must weigh the long-term implications and make calculated decisions about his health: one game missed in Week 3 could mean a healthier Herbert for the remainder of the season.
Ultimately, the Chargers lacked the foresight to make the right call in the closing moments of that Jaguars game, and it appears they still do not have anyone capable of making that critical decision in 2024. Who will step in to protect Herbert from himself?
(Top photo: Brandon Sloter / Getty Images)
