When Justin Herbert took a big hit against the Chiefs in Week 2, it seemed like he could miss some time.
Herbert finished the game for the Chargers, but he wasn't himself. He was clearly in pain and grimaced after each of his throws. At one point, he had a chance to run for a first down but instead just threw a pass weakly into the ground.
It was announced that Herbert was dealing with a rib injury in the days after that contest. That called into question his availability for Week 3, as the problem was expected to linger.
So, is Herbert playing in Week 3? Here's a look at his status for the game and how the Chargers are ensuring that their top passer won't miss their meeting with the Jaguars.
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Is Justin Herbert playing in Week 3?
Yes, Herbert is going to play for the Chargers in Week 3. He started against the Jaguars just 10 days after suffering a rib injury against the Chiefs on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 2.
Herbert was able to log two limited practices ahead of Week 3 before failing to practice on Friday. At that time, it was presumed that he wouldn't be able to play. However, he is managing to do so with some help from the Chargers' medical team.
#Chargers QB Justin Herbert out there for warmups now. Taking snaps: pic.twitter.com/MKBH3It6Yi
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) September 25, 2022
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ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported early Sunday that Herbert tested out a pain-killing injection before practice on Thursday. He was limited in that session and Mortensen described the effects of the injection as "mixed."
As CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reports, Herbert received an "intercostal nerve block." This type of injection is made to a nerve in the chest, and it is designed to "desensitize pain associated with a rib fracture [and]/or cartilage damage."
It was not immediately clear Sunday whether Herbert opted for another injection prior to the game or if he was simply playing through the pain.
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Normally, there isn't much drama surrounding pain-killing injections. However, this one carries with it some intrigue.
Why? Because the Chargers' doctor is the same one who administered an injection to Tyrod Taylor in Week 2 of the 2020 season. The procedure was botched, and Taylor suffered a punctured lung as a result of it. That thrust Herbert into action and resulted in Taylor being benched. Taylor is suing that Chargers' doctor because of the mistake.
That is probably enough to make some Los Angeles fans a bit nervous. However, Mortensen offered some encouragement that the Chargers would be taking every precaution to ensure that Herbert will come out of the routine medical procedure just fine.
"[The injection] will be done with the assistance of an [ultrasound] imaging monitor to guide the administering doctor to [the] appropriate site," Mortensen wrote on Twitter.
If Justin Herbert chooses to take a pain injection today, it will be done with the assistance of an ultra sound imaging monitor to guide the administering doctor to appropriate site.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 25, 2022
Sources say Herbert received an injection to practice on a (limited) basis with mixed results.
It's also worth noting that Herbert didn't suffer complications from the injection on Thursday. So, the Chargers faithful shouldn't be too worried about this procedure.
What they should be worried about is how healthy their franchise quarterback looks as he returns from injury much sooner than expected.
