The Los Angeles Chargers are planning on beginning quarterback Justin Herbert for Sunday’s large AFC West sport in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, regardless of the actual fact he’s nonetheless coping with a high-ankle sprain.
Assuming Herbert begins, it’s a very short-sighted transfer which may have extra long-term threat than reward.
Herbert went into the Chargers’ Week 3 sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers coping with the identical damage and tried to play by way of it regardless of being restricted in apply all week. He was unable to complete the sport after re-injuring the ankle on a third-quarter sack. There’s virtually no likelihood that his ankle is considerably higher after that and now the Chargers are going to place him again on the market in opposition to one other high protection on an ankle that’s going to restrict his mobility and skill to play as much as his full potential.
Even worse, the Chargers are additionally coping with main accidents to each beginning offensive tackles — Rashawn Slater and rookie Joe Alt — which may restrict their skill to guard him.
The Chargers virtually definitely see this as a giant sport that they wish to win provided that it’s a divisional sport and a giant measuring-stick sport in opposition to the back-to-back Tremendous Bowl champions. Herbert at lower than 100% nonetheless in all probability offers them a greater likelihood than backups Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick.
That each one is likely to be true.
Sooner or later, although, the Chargers have to understand this is just one sport in a 17-game season and that they’re going to want Herbert for the rest of the marketing campaign if they’re going to have any form of an opportunity to make the playoffs. Placing him on the market when he’s injured, susceptible and taking part in behind what may very well be a makeshift offensive line is simply placing him in danger for a extra vital damage that would sideline him for added time.
The Chargers have taken a run-heavy method to their offense this season and that may in all probability proceed on Sunday. Herbert will nonetheless must go sooner or later and he may not be in one of the best place to try this given his ankle.
The Chargers ought to be good. They need to be pondering long run.