The Los Angeles Chargers may be bracing for a reality in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers that involves not having star quarterback Justin Herbert on the field. Herbert revealed that he is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and has been listed as questionable for this weekend’s game.
If Herbert can’t give it a go, backup Easton Stick would take his place. Stick filled in for Herbert at the end of last season and went winless in four games.
He threw for 1,129 yards with three touchdowns and one interception but failed to take control of the offense at times. While this Chargers team is much improved from that of last year, replacing Herbert with Stick could be detrimental for the Bolts.
Especially with this game being played in Pittsburgh, the Chargers could have a tough time. Their passing game has been pretty ineffective with Herbert on the field, so without him, the team could look to rely even more heavily on the run game.
The Chargers have had one of the best running games in the NFL to open the season but against a tough Steelers defensive front, it could be more difficult.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 15: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Herbert is in danger of missing Week 3.
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Los Angeles is hoping to have their leader in the game but they could elect to be cautious with his injury. The last thing that the Chargers want is to have this flare up even worse or have it linger throughout the long season.
Sitting Herbert against Pittsburgh could be a smart decision as it would allow him ample time to recover. But the competitor in Herbert will be doing whatever he can to suit up for this matchup.
After this game with the Steelers, Los Angeles is set to host the Kansas City Chiefs and then take on the Denver Broncos on the road. With two big divisional games upcoming, making sure Herbert is fully ready to go could be the play for the Chargers.
Los Angeles has started the year 2-0 on the backs of their running game and defense. It’s been a standard with Jim Harbaugh-led teams in the past and he has implemented his system into the Chargers rather quickly.
This game will be another test for this team, but if Herbert is unable to suit up, the likelihood of them staying undefeated drops exponentially. Hopefully for Los Angeles, Herbert will be able to push through it on Sunday.
More news: Vikings Reveal Justin Jefferson’s Official Status for Week 3 vs Texans
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