The latest setback in a terrible 2023 season for the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Justin Herbert has been out since getting hurt during the team’s Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos. Herbert’s injury is a result of Los Angeles’ poor performance in the last games of the regular season, and his comeback seems unlikely very soon.
What Is Justin Herbert’s Extended Absence?
Herbert broke his right index finger during the Chargers’ final 24-7 loss to Denver, and as a result, he will miss the rest of the 2023 season. In the game’s second quarter, Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen took a shot at him, injuring him. During a pass attempt, Herbert’s hand collided with the charging Allen. Herbert was observed flexing and examining his hand after the play, clearly in pain.
Herbert jogged to the changing area for more inspection. With a finger injury, Los Angeles first considered him questionable to return, but they ultimately declared him out just before halftime. Then-Chargers head coach Brandon Staley informed reporters that Herbert had hurt his right index finger after the game. After having surgery on his finger the following Tuesday, it was shortly announced that he would miss the rest of the season, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Despite Los Angeles’s overall troubles, Herbert had a strong statistical season in 2023 until the injury ended his run of 62 straight starts for the squad. With 297 completions on 456 attempts for 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions at the end of the season, he was on track to record stats comparable to those from 2022. Since being added to the Chargers in Week 2 of the 2020 season as a rookie, Herbert has started every game for the team. With him sidelined, Los Angeles looked to Easton Stick, an unknown option.
