Justin Herbert has had another difficult year as the franchise quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers…
It started well enough, as Herbert signed an at-the-time league record 5 year, $262.5 million dollar deal, which currently makes him the second highest paid player in the NFL behind fellow 2020 draft classmen, Joe Burrow.
However, after a devastating 31-30 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars, where the Los Angeles Chargers – in classic Charger-esque fashion – surrendered a 27-7 half time lead to lose the game on a last minute field goal in regulation; the newer team in Los Angeles has failed to mentally put that aside and get back to playing winning football.
Despite having a Super Bowl-caliber roster, the team has put together a measly 5-8 record, one that will almost certainly result in head coach, Brandon Staley, losing his job – with candidates as lofty as Bill Belichick already being touted as potential replacements.
Even with all of this, Justin Herbert himself has not actually played THAT poorly – Herbert has thrown for 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in a season where he has had 2 of his 3 top wide receivers, Mike Evans and Josh Palmer – out injured in large parts.
Notwithstanding of course, the inability for Brandon Staley to get the offense (or defense) clicking at all outside of two wins against the poor Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
And yet, after suffering a fracture finger on his right (throwing) hand, it looks like Herbert’s bad run of fortune is still going, and now big developments have come, per Adam Schefter.
Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert is very likely to undergo surgery Tuesday on his fractured right index finger, per source. Whether Herbert will have any chance to able to return this season will be determined by the surgery.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2023
What Does This Mean For Justin Herbert?
The good news for Herbert is a.) He could still continue to play this season – pending result of the surgery and b.) if he is going to have a season ending injury – better to have it in a year where the hopes of the Chargers actually making – let alone succeeding in – the playoffs, is razor thin.
This team is not built for the post season – and despite Khalil Mack’s phenomenal year, where he currently leads the league in sacks – the coaching staff has not managed to make the best out of a roster that is packed with blue chip talent such as Mack, Herbert, Derwin James, Keenan Allen. Rashawn Slater, Corey Linsley, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa – I could even go on.
It would be absurd that the Chargers could even think to not fire Brandon Staley for gross malpractice in the handling of Justin Herbert’s rookie years. The Stanos’s need to get their chequebook out and find a coach who can finally get them to (or at least somewhere vaguely, familiarly or resembling) the promised land.
Meanwhile, until the end of the season, or Herbert is cleared to play, the Los Angeles roll on with backup former 5th round draft pick, Easton Stick.
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