Justin Herbert's abbreviated appearance in Los Angeles' Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh might not keep him out of action in Week 4.
Herbert was officially limited in the Chargers' Wednesday practice due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 2, and delivered some mildly encouraging news regarding the ailment afterward.
“It’s better than where we were last week. I think it’s progressing," Herbert said. "It was just really painful during the game. The buildup from the hits, the toll on it. But I think at this point, I’ve done a good job of rehabbing it, of getting treatment on it. I think we’re taking steps forward.”
After making it through the week with a questionable designation for Week 3, Herbert played against the Steelers and appeared to be quite limited in his mobility. Herbert still managed to lead the Chargers on a couple of scoring drives and had a touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston for a second straight week.
As Herbert said, though, the hits piled up and forced him out of the game, requiring Taylor Heinicke to replace him. Without Herbert, the Chargers had little chance of a comeback, falling, 20-10.
“It was just go out there and play until you couldn’t," Herbert said of the plan for him in Week 3. "We kind of talked about it and as many plays as I could give, that was the goal. Obviously, I would have loved to have been able to play the entire game.”
The situation only grew worse afterward, as it was revealed both of Herbert's starting tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, suffered injuries that are expected to keep them out of the Week 4 date with the Kansas City Chiefs. Suddenly, the Chargers are right where they were last season: Hoping for the best with a banged-up Herbert playing behind a similarly injured offensive line.
Wise minds might scan their schedule, spot their Week 5 bye and wonder if it would be best to sit Herbert for a week of rest and recovery instead of risking further ankle aggravation. It sounds as if the Chargers, however, are heading in the opposite direction.
“That was part of the conversation. I don’t think that’s the way we’re heading," Herbert said. "I think it’s going day to day. See how it is, and keep getting better. We felt like I was in the position last week to play, and I felt comfortable and safe going out there knowing I could move around and do as much as I could to protect myself. But we got to that point where they felt it was the best decision to take me out because I couldn’t move and I couldn’t protect myself.”
Herbert clearly couldn't protect himself against a relentless Steelers pass rush that has victimized quarterbacks on a weekly basis this season. He can't quite count on the going getting any easier against the rival Chiefs, because even if they don't own the best rushing group, they're still directed by aggressive defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
As of now, that combination of daunting circumstances isn't dissuading the Chargers from trying to keep Herbert in the lineup.
“I don’t know, it’s early," Herbert said. "I’m going to do everything I can to play. As long as we keep moving in the right direction. Weight room, treatment. That’s always the goal.”
We'll see if that changes before Sunday.