Chargers lose Herbert for the season

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – We now know the extent of Justin Herbert’s injury. Two days after being knocked out of a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos, Herbert had surgery to repair his right index finger. Herbert was then placed on the team’s injured/reserve list immediately.

“A successful surgery. It went well today. He’s on the road to recovery,” Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said.

So now what are the Chargers prepared to do without their franchise quarterback? Staley and his team are about to find out. Before the team got affirmation on Herbert’s injury, there was already a sense of uncertainty about Herbert’s availability for the rest of the season.

The Chargers got their answer on Tuesday. The mood was somber when Staley came to the podium to address the media following the Chargers’ one-sided loss to the Broncos at SoFi Stadium.

Staley and the Chargers absorbed their eighth defeat of the season and looked every bit like a team ready to concede that they have played underwhelmingly this season. The Chargers played listlessly against the Broncos. Los Angeles then had the wind knocked out of its salls when Herbert had to leave the game due to an injury to his throwing hand. 

“Justin [Herbert] has a right index [finger] fracture,” Staley said after the game.

On Monday, a couple of days before the Chargers played a football game on Thursday Night Football against AFC West revival Las Vegas Raiders, Staley didn’t have too much more he could offer on Herbert’s injury.

“He is going to see a couple of hand specialists today, one this morning and one this afternoon, and then we’ll know more from there,” Staley remarked.

While Herbert is running around to find out if he can play for the rest of the season, Staley and the Chargers have to figure out what they’re going to do. That’s a lot to figure out. The Chargers started the season with a lot of promise. Some experts had the Chargers going as far as Super Bowl contenders.

It hasn’t turned out that way. Even before the latest injury to Herbert, the Chargers were already on the verge of being on the outside looking inward for a possible playoff berth. The loss to the Broncos was just another drop of rain on the Chargers’ parade. The Chargers have lost four of their last five games.

The schedule is not getting any easier for Los Angeles. After playing the Raiders, the Chargers play the Buffalo Bills at home, hit the road to take on Denver again and wrap up the season against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

In his third season as coach of the Chargers, Staley said that this is probably the toughest stretch he’s had since taking over the reins of the team from previous head coach Anthony Lynn. 

“Yeah, I think so,” Staley said. “It has been, just because you know the type of games that you’ve been in, you know the fights that you’ve been in, you see how other teams are doing in the league and how we’ve competed. We just haven’t been able to knock them down. Like I’ve told you guys, I take full responsibility. But, yeah, it’s been a tough stretch, but we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to bounce back and we’re going to be ready for Las Vegas.”

One thing the Chargers have to do for the rest of the season is put points on the board. In their last three games, the Chargers have managed to score a total of 23 points against the Broncos, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens. As a team, the Chargers have regressed this season.

In 2022, the Chargers finished the regular season with a 10-7 record and a trip to the playoffs. They now have a worse record than they did last year. You could put the blame on the Jacksonville Jaguars for that. After being up 27-0 against the Jaguars in an NFL playoff game, the Chargers wound up losing, 31-30.

The Chargers, it appears, have not recovered. The Chargers have played most of this season like it was one big hangover. It’s hard not to see that the Jacksonville defeat is playing tricks on the Chargers. With the Chargers in a tailspin and the season winding down, Staley was asked by a reporter if he’s focused or concerned about his job. 

“I’m just focused on getting ready for Las Vegas,” Staley replied. “I have a team that’s hurting in there. We have to rally, we have to make sure that we get a good two days of practice before we travel and get ready to play a division game. I’m focused on doing my job well and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”