Chargers fans receive heartbreaking QB Justin Herbert latest injury update

The Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Justin Herbert‘s 2023 NFL season continue a tumultuous trajectory as they faced another setback in Sunday’s clash against the Denver Broncos. After giving the New England Patriots a 0-6 loss days ago, Herbert might have the mindset to continue the winning streak to shake off the criticism of the NFL community.

However, the Chargers, instead, embraced the 24–7 loss, which marked their fourth defeat in the last five games. With a 5-8 record, they are now sitting in the third spot in the AFC West. Besides the terrible loss, the team also witnessed a crushing blow with the injury to Herbert.

Latest Justin Herbert heartbreaking injury update

Head coach Brandon Staley faced the press post-game to address the team’s situation, revealing the unfortunate news of Justin Herbert’s injury. The quarterback was diagnosed with a fractured index finger on his throwing hand, which caused uncertainty about his return as no specific timeline was provided via ABC News.

The injury occurred during a play against the Broncos’ defense, when the QB was hit by Zach Allen. The impact caused him to fall to the ground, resulting in a rough landing on his throwing hand. Showing clear signs of discomfort, the quarterback motioned to the bench before promptly making his way off the field and towards the locker room.

The signal-caller was initially labeled as questionable to return, although his absence extended beyond halftime, prompting the team to rule him out for the remainder of the game due to the severity of the problem. The MRI scheduled for Monday will shed light on the extent of the damage and potentially offer insight into his recovery timeline.

This season has been marked by the unfortunate injuries of several starting quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, and Deshaun Watson. Justin Herbert faced a significant setback when he was unable to continue playing for the team and had to be taken off the field at the midway line. However, he displayed determination by expressing his unwavering commitment to making a swift and healthy return.

“It’s obviously tough. You feel bad for hanging the team out like that. You never want to be taken out of the game. It’s something that we’ll know more as the week goes on, and if there’s any chance to play, I’ll do everything I can to be out there. I’m going to do everything I can in the treatment room to get back to 100%.”

This incident isn’t the Rams’ star’s first encounter with a finger injury this season. He has previously endured a fractured middle finger on his non-throwing hand, although that did not cause him to miss any game time. The QB finished just 9 of 17 for 96 yards, along with an interception

Which QB will replace Justin Herbert as starter?

Backup quarterback Easton Stick, a talented player drafted in the fifth round from North Dakota State, confidently took the field and delivered an impressive performance after Herber’s injury.

QB Stick’s performance was decent, completing one out of three passes for minimal yardage. However, as the game went on, he showed notable improvement by throwing an impressive 57-yard pass to rookie Quentin Johnston, which was a standout moment in the match.

Austin Ekeler scored the only touchdown for the Chargers during their recent two-week struggle thanks to this effective play.

Coach Staley acknowledged Stick’s gradual acclimatization to the match by lauding his commendable contributions during the second half.

“Once he got his feet underneath him, I thought he did some good things, particularly in the second half. thought he moved the team and gave us a chance. It was good for him to get into the flow of the game, because when you come in there cold, it’s tough to just get in there right away and get moving. There’s going to be some things in the second half that we can build off.”

A highlight of Stick’s display was a remarkable 57-yard pass to rookie Quentin Johnston, setting up a pivotal moment in the game and leading to Austin Ekeler’s subsequent touchdown. In his post-game reflection, Stick acknowledged the challenges of a sporadic playing schedule, although he also emphasized his commitment to giving his best whenever called upon.

“Obviously I haven’t played in a while, but that’s part of the job. I’ve been here — this is five years — and I’ve got to watch Justin. I’ve watched Philip play, and play really well. And that’s the standard. Just went out there and tried to compete, do the best I can.”

Behind Stick, the Chargers have only rookie Max Duggan as a QB option. Now, it remains to be seen if the Bolts make a drastic move of changing their signal-caller room.