Chargers' Justin Herbert: Vintage yardage total in loss
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Herbert completed 27 of 39 passes for 349 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed twice for eight yards in the Chargers' 17-15 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night.
Herbert turned in a final line reminiscent of previous seasons, even though he was operating without No. 2 receiver Quentin Johnston (ankle). The fifth-year pro connected with an impressive nine different targets on the night on his way to a season high in passing yardage. Herbert did go without a touchdown pass for the first time this season, but he put his team in position for a win by leading a marathon 15-play, 77-yard march that took up over eight minutes in the fourth quarter and culminated in a go-ahead field goal. While the Bolts defense ultimately couldn't hold up its end of the bargain, Herbert appears to be trending in the right direction fantasy-wise heading into a Week 8 home matchup against the Saints.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Season high in passing yards
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Herbert completed 21 of his 34 attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown in the 23-16 win over the Broncos on Sunday.
Herbert has had significantly better statistical days, but make no mistake, Sunday was one of the best outings of his career. Despite facing a Broncos secondary that had rightfully earned the reputation as one of the best in the league, the Pro Bowl signal caller was flinging it all around the field throughout the first half while dropping dimes against single coverage and throwing frozen ropes on 15-yard first-down darts. It was even more impressive given Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey both left at various points in the first half, although his top two targets did return during the contest. Herbert tallied a season-high 184 yards in the first half, and with the Chargers up three scores until the fourth quarter, the offense was content sitting on the ball over the course of the final 30 minutes. The 26-year-old could be poised to build off this performance against a Cardinals defense that allowed four passing touchdowns against the Packers in Week 6.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Logs another limited practice
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Herbert (ankle) was limited at practice Thursday.
After logging back-to-back limited sessions, Herbert likely will need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid a Week 6 injury designation. However, while the QB continues to manage an ankle issue, there's been nothing to suggest that his availability for Sunday's game against the Broncos is in any danger.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: QBs to Sit
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Herbert went into his bye in Week 5 with 15 Fantasy points as his best outing in the first four games of the season. There's little reason to expect him to become a standout Fantasy option in this offense moving forward, especially in Week 6 at Denver. The Broncos are No. 6 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and Geno Smith's 19.8 points in Week 1 is the best game against Denver this year, including matchups with Justin Fields, Baker Mayfield, and Aaron Rodgers. Herbert is only worth using in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Still limited by ankle issue
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Herbert (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Herbert had some time to rest his troublesome right ankle during the Chargers' Week 5 bye, but the quarterback's listed limitations Wednesday suggest that he continues to manage the injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos. That said, the Chargers haven't indicated that Herbert is in any danger of missing the Week 6 contest, though he could be listed as questionable heading into the game if he doesn't upgrade to full practice participation by Friday.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Active versus Chiefs
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Herbert (ankle) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Herbert, who was limited in all three of the Chargers' practices this week after having aggravated his high right-ankle sprain last weekend, approached the contest officially listed as questionable. With his active status confirmed, the QB will continue to work through his injury versus Kansas City. It remains to be seen how much Herbert's ankle issue will impact his mobility Sunday, but he'll give a go, with Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick available to sub in should Herbert end up suffering a setback, as he did during Week 3 action.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Making progress
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Chargers head caoch Jim Harbaugh noted Wednesday that the MRI that Herbert (ankle) underwent Monday showed that the quarterback is "progressing," Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Harbaugh added that Herbert might take part in practice in some capacity Wednesday after shedding the walking boot on his right ankle. The Chargers will release their first Week 4 injury report later Wednesday, when the extent of Herbert's practice participation will be known. In any case, the signal-caller's status will need to be monitored closely ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs. After Herbert aggravated his right ankle sprain in the Chargers' Week 3 loss to the Steelers, the Chargers could opt to take a more cautious approach with the quarterback in Week 4. Taylor Heinicke came to replace Herbert in the loss to Pittsburgh, and Heinicke and Easton Stick could both be candidates to start against the Chiefs if Herbert is unable to play.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Gets X-rays on ankle
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Herbert underwent X-rays on his right ankle after Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Herbert, who described the injury that forced him out of the contest as a "continuation" of the right high-ankle sprain that resulted in him taking a questionable tag into Sunday's game, was sporting a walking boot afterward, per Popper. The Chargers should have a better idea regarding Herbert's availability for next Sunday's game against Kansas City once the results of his X-rays are in, though the quarterback indicated that he is "hopeful" he'll be able to go through the same process that prepared him to be available versus Pittsburgh, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com. Before checking out in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Steelers, Herbert completed 12 of 18 pass attempts for 125 yards and one touchdown and carried once for zero yards.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Active, set to start Sunday
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Herbert (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Steelers and is expected to start, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Coming out of the Chargers' Week 2 win over the Panthers, Herbert has been tending to a right high-ankle sprain, which kept him from practicing Wednesday and Friday. The Chargers apparently saw enough from Herbert during his limited practice Thursday and during pregame warmups Sunday to sign off on him playing, though the fact that the team is keeping both of his backups (Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke) active for Week 3 suggests that there still may be some level of concern about his health. In any case, Herbert should play through the ankle sprain so long as he's able to tolerate the pain, though his mobility in the pocket might be compromised to some degree. Expect the Chargers to continue to lean heavily on the run game, with backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards having combined for 56 carries through the first two weeks of the season.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Game-time call, but should play
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Herbert (ankle) is preparing to play Sunday against Pittsburgh, but the Chargers continue to list him as questionable and aren't expected to make a decision on his status until after pregame warmups, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Herbert is dealing with a right high-ankle sprain that resulted in him taking part in just one limited practice during Week 3 prep. The veteran quarterback appears intent on suiting up against the Steelers, but the Chargers aren't likely to allow him to play if his ankle doesn't hold up during warmups. Herbert's status remains in limbo, so fantasy managers who roster and plan to start him should be prepared with a backup option if he's ultimately ruled out ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Easton Stick would likely take over as the Chargers' starting signal-caller if Herbert isn't able to play, though Taylor Heinicke is also on the roster and could factor in.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Questionable for Week 3
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Herbert (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh.
Herbert told Kris Rhim of ESPN.com on Friday that the injury he sustained during the Chargers' Week 2 win in Carolina is a high right-ankle sprain, which didn't allow him to practice until Thursday. During that session, he was spotted with a heavy tape job on his right ankle, per Rhim. Herbert also relayed Friday that it's "yet to be decided" whether he'll be able to play Sunday, so if the quarterback ultimately can't go, Easton Stick would get the call under center for Los Angeles.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Has high ankle sprain
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Herbert (ankle) said Friday that it's "yet to be decided" if he'll play Sunday at Pittsburgh, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports. Additionally, Herbert relayed that he's dealing with a high right-ankle sprain.
Herbert played all 69 offensive snaps during the Chargers' Week 2 win at Carolina, but afterward he underwent X-rays on his right leg, which were returned negative. He eventually was diagnosed with a generic ankle injury and didn't return to practice until Thursday, when he was limited. During that session, Herbert's right ankle was heavily taped, per Rhim, and now that the nature of the issue has been confirmed by the quarterback, it's no surprise he hasn't taken many practice reps this week. The Chargers will reveal a Week 3 game designation later Friday, with Easton Stick on hand to start if Herbert is unable to play.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: At practice Thursday
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Herbert (ankle) is present for Thursday's practice, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Herbert was listed as a non-participant Wednesday, so his presence at the start of Thursday's session is seemingly a positive sign ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers. The Chargers' second Week 3 injury report will be released later Thursday and will clarify the extent of the quarterback's practice participation.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: QBs to Sit
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Herbert will hopefully be OK after injuring his leg in Week 2 at Carolina, but even if he plays in Week 3 at Pittsburgh, he will once again be tough to trust in one-quarterback leagues. Through two games against the Raiders and Chargers, Herbert has combined for just 27.4 Fantasy points, and he has yet to top 145 passing yards in any contest. The Steelers have yet to face a prolific quarterback in two outings against Kirk Cousins and Bo Nix, but Pittsburgh has also allowed just one touchdown in two games. Herbert is just a low-end starter in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: X-rays come up negative
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Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that X-rays on Herbert's right leg were negative, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Harbaugh said Los Angeles will know more about Herbert's status as the week progresses, but for now it's encouraging that the franchise quarterback at least has avoided a fracture. It's worth noting that Monday's imaging results don't dismiss the possibility of a soft-tissue injury for Herbert, who got rolled up on in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Panthers but quickly managed to retake the field. The Chargers have Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke available behind Herbert heading into a Week 3 matchup against the Steelers.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Gets X-rays on leg
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Herbert said after Sunday's 26-3 win over the Panthers that he underwent X-rays on his lower right leg after the contest, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Herbert, who was able to finish the contest after getting taped up, indicated that he "got rolled up" on after a fumble in the third quarter. In terms of how the injury might affect his status for the Chargers' Week 3 matchup with the Steelers, Herbert said that he would "know more in the next couple of days." Herbert completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 130 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while adding 18 yards on six carries.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Plays game-manager role in win
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Herbert completed 14 of 20 passes for 130 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding six carries for 18 yards in the Chargers' 26-3 win over the Panthers on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Through two games, Herbert is probably close to unrecognizable to fantasy managers who frequently benefitted from his gaudy yardage totals over his first four seasons. With the Chargers able to stick to head coach Jim Harbaugh's preferred method of winning a game -- that being through a punishing ground attack and sound defense -- Herbert has attempted just 43 passes through two weeks. However, he did reward those rolling with him in their lineups Sunday by tossing a pair of touchdown passes to Quentin Johnston of 29 and five yards in the first half. Herbert also visited the blue medical tent after a hard hit briefly in the third quarter, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, but he quickly returned to the game. Next up for Herbert and the Chargers is a challenging and second straight cross-country road trip, as Los Angeles will face off with the Steelers in Week 3.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Hardly needed in win
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Herbert completed 17 of 26 pass attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown in the 22-10 win over the Raiders on Sunday. He also ran the ball four times for six yards.
The Chargers tallied just two total first downs in the first half, its fewest in a half since 2012, as the team seemed content scrapping out yards on the ground. The heavy emphasis on the rushing attack finally paid off in the second half as J.K. Dobbins tore through Las Vegas' defense, opening up a bit of passing room for Herbert. A complete dud of a fantasy day was saved by a short touchdown pass to Ladd McConkey in the waning moments of the game as the defense completely sold out to stop the run. The Chargers could deploy a similar game plan next week against a seemingly hapless Panthers team.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Another full practice Thursday
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Herbert (foot) was listed as a full practice participant Thursday.
Wednesday's initial injury report didn't include Herbert's name, but that has been amended to note that the QB practiced fully through a listed foot issue. That said, Herbert -- who was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot July 31 -- indicated Wednesday that he's back to 100 percent, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, the Chargers' franchise QB relayed that he isn't wearing any special kind of cleat or sole to support his foot, adding that managing the injury throughout the season is "not really on (his) mind right now." In any case, Herbert is poised to start Sunday's regular-season opener against the Raiders.
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Chargers' Justin Herbert: Not on injury report
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Herbert (foot) wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report.
A few weeks of rest seem to have allowed Herbert to move past his plantar fascia injury. The quarterback returning to practice Aug. 19, and now that he's participating without limitations, he'll be ready to direct the offense Sunday versus the Raiders. The fact he isn't even listed on the injury report suggests Herbert will have his usual mobility Sunday in his first game under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Wideout DJ Chark (hip) is the only significant injury concern for the Chargers offense, and even he may be more of an ancillary piece than a regular starter.
