Justin Herbert’s sore ankle keeps him out of practice as Chargers prepare for Bucs
Quarterback Justin Herbert missed practice Wednesday after he suffered left leg and ankle injuries in the Chargers’ loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Although Herbert left the game for one play after taking a hard hit on the left thigh during a tackle late in the second quarter, it was actually a left ankle injury suffered in the first quarter that kept him off the practice field Wednesday, he said.
Herbert first hurt the ankle on a seven-yard scramble on third-and-16 on the Chargers’ opening drive. He was seen grimacing as he jogged toward the sideline. Trainers re-taped the ankle both inside and outside of his cleat and he continued to play.
“It was difficult to play with,” Herbert said Wednesday with the Chargers preparing to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. “It was one of those things that we talked about where we limited some of the runs.”
Herbert threw for 213 yards and one touchdown, completing 21 of 30 passes against the Chiefs. He had four rush attempts for 12 yards.
The Chiefs are unbeaten in the last 15 games decided by seven points or less, while the Chargers are winless in their last 11 games decided by three or fewer.
The 26-year-old already has played through an ankle injury this season, fighting through a severe right high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2. He said Wednesday he doesn’t feel the latest injury is as painful as the earlier one, but he and the medical staff took a conservative approach for practice to begin the week.
“If I felt like I could have practiced 100% to make sure that everyone’s getting a full speed rep, I definitely would have. I didn’t think I was able to do that,” Herbert said. “The trainers didn’t think I was able to do that today.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said before practice Wednesday he would like Herbert to rest for at least one day but wasn’t sure if the quarterback would overrule the coach’s decision.
“I know this: he will be doing anything and everything in his power to play on Sunday,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve seen it now over and over. Certainly a lesser man wouldn’t be doing the things he does.”
Herbert, who missed the final four games last season because of a broken finger on his throwing hand, has dealt with a multitude of injuries this season, beginning with a plantar fascia injury that kept him sidelined for two weeks during training camp.
Although he finished the game against the Carolina Panthers, he left the stadium in a walking boot then re-aggravated the sprained right ankle the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He had been wearing a black compression sleeve in recent weeks to keep swelling down in his left knee, a nagging ailment Herbert said was unrelated to the latest ankle injury.
The mounting injuries haven’t deterred Herbert, who has thrown 335 consecutive passes without an interception as the Chargers (8-5) are in position to earn an AFC wild card playoff berth.
“It’s been worse,” said Herbert, who broke his femur in high school and battled through a painful rib injury in 2022. “To fight through this, it’s part of the game. I think that’s one of the things that has made this locker room so special, is all these guys are so tough.”
Playoff implications are on the line as the Bills visit the Lions, the Buccaneers visit the Chargers and the Eagles play host to the Steelers in Week 15.
Herbert’s top receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder/knee) participated in practice Wednesday after missing Sunday’s game. The rookie was limited while wearing a protective black sleeve on his left leg, a slight improvement from last week when he was limited in practice while wearing a knee brace under baggy black sweatpants.
With 815 yards receiving and 58 catches, McConkey is the Chargers’ top pass-catcher. The team’s second-leading receiver, tight end Will Dissly, missed practice Wednesday after injuring his shoulder late in the first half Sunday.
Receiver Jalen Reagor suffered a finger injury Sunday and will miss time, Harbaugh said. It “could be” an injury that puts Reagor on injured reserve, Harbaugh said, but the coach didn’t want to predict firmly.
Etc.
Outside linebackers Joey Bosa (hip) and Khalil Mack (rest) did not practice Wednesday. … Safety Tony Jefferson (hamstring) was limited in practice after missing Sunday’s game. … The Chargers signed receiver Dez Fitzpatrick to the practice squad Tuesday and released tackle Alex Leatherwood, a 2021 first-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. This is Fitzpatrick’s second stint on the Chargers practice squad this year after he was signed on Sept. 2 and released on Dec. 5.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
