The Los Angeles Chargers left Kansas City with a loss and a much bigger problem. Justin Herbert exited Sunday’s opener late in the third quarter with a right ankle injury and did not return, and the initial word from the team suggests the star quarterback could miss multiple weeks.
Herbert took the hit on a rollout to his right when Chris Jones ran him down. He tried to walk it off, was checked in the medical tent, and eventually walked to the locker room under his own power. Rookie backup Trey Lance finished the game, which the Chiefs won 28-13.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh was blunt after the game. He said the team was still gathering information and that Herbert would undergo an MRI on Monday morning. Harbaugh added that any early speculation on a timeline would be a disservice to Herbert and the team.
The initial hope inside the building is a high ankle sprain that costs Herbert two to four weeks. The fear is a fracture that could shelve him longer and force the Chargers to lean on Lance for the run of games before the bye week.
Lance was serviceable in relief. He went 8 of 15 for 89 yards, ran twice for 22 yards, and did not turn the ball over. The offense scaled back after Herbert exited, and Lance was mostly asked to hand off to Najee Harris and let the defense keep the game close.
The Chargers built this roster around Herbert. The offensive line got a huge investment. Ladd McConkey emerged as a legitimate WR1. Quentin Johnston looked healthier in camp than he ever did last year. Losing Herbert for any stretch pulls a load-bearing wall out of the entire operation.
The AFC West does not stop moving. Kansas City is still the favorite. Denver is coming off a playoff berth. Las Vegas is expected to be improved with a rebuilt defense. Every game the Chargers give away in September becomes a game they need to win in December.
Los Angeles hosts the Denver Broncos next Sunday. If Herbert cannot go, Lance gets his first NFL start since his 49ers days, and the Chargers will lean even harder on Harris and rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders to move the ball.
The full injury update is expected Monday afternoon. Chargers fans have already been through enough. They deserve a clean answer, and the sooner the better.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.