INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who suffered an damage within the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders that required a splint on his left center finger, mentioned he was unsure if he would miss any video games and joked that the damage was “only a flesh wound.”
Herbert mentioned the damage resulted from his finger getting caught in a helmet after he threw an interception that was caught by Raiders cornerback Tre’von Moehrig. Herbert sat on the sphere following the play after which headed to the medical tent with an athletic coach who lined Herbert’s hand with a towel.
Herbert returned to the sphere on the Chargers’ subsequent drive together with his left hand wrapped in a bandage and a splint on the finger. He later placed on a glove and was nonetheless sporting the splint after the sport.
Herbert has by no means missed a sport in his profession, and the Chargers are getting into a bye week earlier than taking part in the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
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“I haven’t got all the knowledge proper now,” Herbert mentioned. “If I used to be in a position to return on the market, and the medical doctors and trainers felt prefer it was secure, I am certain it is as much as their arms. I’ve all the time felt actually secure and comfy with them understanding. We’ll see what they need to say.”
The offense adjusted to Herbert’s damage by having the rest of his snaps come from shotgun and pistol formations, apart from one snap that was a failed quarterback sneak on fourth down with 3:30 left within the fourth quarter.
Herbert mentioned they may “wait and see” if the offense must shift from snaps below heart whereas his finger heals.
“I believed that we did job within the pistol at present,” Herbert mentioned. “Whether or not it’s below heart or whether or not it’s within the gun, I do know that our workforce will adapt, and we’ll discover a solution to get after it.”
Herbert additionally mentioned the ache in his finger wasn’t vital.
“It is not dangerous; it was ok to return on the market,” Herbert mentioned. “It is simply a type of issues that you need to monitor over the subsequent couple of days, see the way it goes. We’ll look ahead to extra particulars.”
Sunday marked one of many worst passing video games of Herbert’s profession. He completed with 13 completions and 167 yards passing, each profession lows, however Herbert discovered success on the bottom, the place he scrambled for 2 scores and had a spotlight play on which he made Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby stumble after a juke transfer.
On that play, Herbert was hit late by Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery, which resulted in an ejection. Herbert mentioned he did not take any offense to the hit by Tillery, a former Chargers first-round decide, and referred to as him a pal and good teammate.
“It’s what it’s. It is soccer,” Herbert mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t anticipate to be handled good and never have everybody hit you and are available after you. I perceive the scenario. I used to be attempting to get out of bounds. I’ve no exhausting emotions about it.”
Nonetheless, regardless of the damage to his hand, the late hit and the passing struggles, Herbert delivered within the sport’s closing moments. It was third-and-10, with the Chargers on their 11-yard line with 2 minutes remaining, and Herbert threw a 45-yard strike to Joshua Palmer to seal the win.
“You guys noticed Justin’s toughness at present — not that we wanted to indicate anyone how robust he’s,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley mentioned. “He is a clutch participant. He has all the time performed his greatest within the clutch. It doesn’t matter what sort of sport it’s, on the finish of the sport, he is all the time going to be there, and that throw is a good instance of it. Simply sort of hung robust the entire sport. However, then, once you throw a dime like that to complete it, it is simply a type of signature performs that assist you to win a sport like this.”
