Chargers QB Justin Herbert day-to-day with fracture to rib cartilage

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 9/17/22

If it wasn't clear on Thursday night, it's official now. Los Angeles Chargers' star quarterback Justin Herbert is injured, but it sounds like it could have been a lot worse.

ESPN is reporting that Herbert officially has a fracture to his rib cartilage. He suffered the injury in Thursday night's 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Herbert was hit while throwing by Kansas City defensive end Mike Danna. It was a clean hit, but a big win. Danna came free on the pass-rush and had his helmet right on Herbert's ribcage as he wrapped him up and drove him to the ground.

Perhaps miraculously, Herbert subsequently made this throw while injured:

Justin Herbert, playing through injury, throws a downfield strike to DeAndre Carter! #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/C1jH8YxEZw
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) September 16, 2022

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told the media on Friday that a CT scan confirmed the injury to Herbert's rib cartilage, but he did say the diagnosis is "good news".
"We'll know a lot more about practice and stuff like that on Wednesday," Staley said, per ESPN. "Going to take the weekend and beginning Monday, Tuesday to learn a lot more."

"It's just going to come down to comfort. It's such a rotational position, just going to have to make sure that he's comfortable, and we're not going to know more about how he feels until later on in the week."

Herbert will have until Sunday, September 25th to heal up for the third game of the Chargers season, which is against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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