Jim Harbaugh got the update the Chargers needed on Justin Herbert’s finger, and it came back clean.
Herbert left Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans after appearing to injure his left middle finger when he was sacked in the fourth quarter. That was especially concerning because his left hand was surgically repaired last season. After the game, Herbert said the finger “shouldn’t be an issue,” while Harbaugh said he feared it might be fractured.
On Monday, Harbaugh said the X-rays were negative, which means there’s no fracture. He added that Herbert should be “good to go” as the Chargers try to get their first win of the season. Los Angeles is the only winless team left in the NFL.
The injury scare comes at a time when Herbert’s season has already been under heavy scrutiny. He has thrown at least one interception in every game this year and leads the NFL with 11 picks. Sunday was also brutal in another way: he was sacked eight times, the most in a single game in his career.
The numbers around him have been rough, too. Herbert is 21st in the league with 1,591 passing yards and 26th with six touchdown passes. He has been taken down 31 times, the second-most in the NFL this season, and his quarterback rating sits at 29.1, easily the lowest of his career.
Even with all of that, Herbert is expected to start next Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore will have Jacoby Brissett under center after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were ruled out with injuries.
In Other News...
Chargers Just Made A Daiyan Henley Decision Fans Will Question
The Chargers have moved on from Daiyan Henley, sending the 26-year-old linebacker to Denver after four seasons in Los Angeles. Henley had become a familiar part of the defense, and his value showed up most in pass coverage, where he gave the Chargers a linebacker who could stay on the field in a variety of situations.
For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to tighten up its own defense, the decision is going to draw questions from fans who saw Henley as one of the more dependable pieces in the middle. Denver clearly believes he can help its own coverage issues, but for the Chargers, the timing and the return leave plenty of room for second-guessing. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Sent A Clear Message About This Lost Season
The Chargers made another unmistakable move toward the future, dealing linebacker Daiyan Henley to Denver as the organization continues to reshape its thinking around a difficult season. For a team that has spent much of the year searching for traction, the trade fits a broader approach of looking beyond the present and collecting assets that can help down the line.
Henleys departure adds to the sense that more roster changes could still be coming as the Chargers weigh their options. With speculation already swirling around other notable names, the front office appears willing to keep listening if the return matches its long-term plan, even if it means parting with more recognizable pieces before the season is over. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Trade Deadline Just Put These Roster Problems Under A Microscope
With the Chargers still searching for answers at midseason, the trade deadline has only sharpened the focus on a roster that has too many spots in flux. The interior line has become one of the clearest examples, with Cole Strange out of the picture after a rough stretch and Branson Taylor plus Alex Harkey splitting time at guard while giving the unit a steadier look. Elsewhere, rookie Genesis Smith has had his share of trouble in coverage, adding to the sense that the defense is still sorting out who can be trusted in key moments.
Linebacker has become another spot worth watching, where Marlowe Wax has flashed enough promise to complicate the picture for the rest of the group. The Chargers also have a few veterans who fit the kind of deadline conversations teams tend to have when they are trying to balance present needs with future value, including Dalvin Tomlinson and Donte Jackson. For a team already under pressure to stop the slide, the next move may say as much about the rosters direction as any game result. [Read more 🡒]