Chargers Coach Brandon Staley described Herbert as “day-by-day” on Friday and former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said, “I’ve had that injury and it stinks.”
Special padding will help, Hasselbeck said on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” but former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan was outspoken. Ryan pointed out that defenders would try to make Herbert “uncomfortable” and added, “If I have this guy as my franchise quarterback, though, he’s not playing this week. That’s me.”
Herbert’s injection would be, according to ESPN, guided by ultrasound to avoid hitting a lung, a known possibility with procedures of this sort. In 2020, Tyrod Taylor, then the Chargers’ quarterback, had his lung punctured by a painkilling injection for a rib injury. Taylor has since sued the Chargers team physician.
Hasselbeck added that, despite an injection, things like running, trying to catch your breath, and yelling out a hard court will be uncomfortable. But he added that he didn’t sit out when he was hurt. “I did go back in that day and, looking back now, I wish I hadn’t because it never healed and it just kind of ruined me for the rest of the year. Looking back, I wish I would have sat out.”
Herbert’s protection up front will likely also suffer a bit with center Corey Linsley listed as doubtful with a knee injury.
