The Los Angeles Chargers have released their final injury report ahead of their Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and for this early in the season, it is full of concerns. However, the only place to start is with the quarterback position.
Justin Herbert, who dealt with a plantar fascia injury that kept him out all preseason, has been hobbled with an ankle injury. On Friday, it was revealed that the injury is actually a high ankle sprain.
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Chargers have a lot to weigh when it comes to the decision about whether to play Justin Herbert (high-ankle) on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/hjfGBzF5Ns
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 20, 2024
That left Herbert with a questionable tag for the game on Sunday but based on the amount of tape that was being used to wrap it up on Friday, it doesn't seem like the best move for the team to have him out there, even if Herbert wants to play.
So where does that leave the team? Do the Chargers go with Easton Stick or Taylor Heinicke? The Chargers brought Heinicke in via trade after the preseason but he has been a healthy scratch in each of the first two weeks.
Los Angeles Chargers Week 3 injury report
| Player | Position | Injury | Status |
| Junior Colson | LB | Hamstring | Out |
| Justin Herbert | QB | Ankle | Questionable |
| Alohi Gilman | S | Knee | Questionable |
| Bud Dupree | Edge | Illness | Questionable |
| Joshua Palmer | WR | Elbow/Calf | Questionable |
| Ja'Sir Taylor | CB | Fibula | Questionable |
There are some big names on this list for the Chargers and with it being only Week 3, the team has to do what it can to stop this list from growing.
Rookie linebacker Junior Colson has already dealt with plenty of injury concerns this season. Alohi Gilman missed last week's game but Elijah Molden filled in quite well during his absence.
Joshua Palmer is off to a slow start and despite being the team's No. 1 wide receiver on the depth chart, he hasn't looked like anything close to that. Bud Dupree and Ja'Sir Taylor are also key pieces of the defense, so the Chargers could have a lot to overcome against a 2-0 Steelers team.
Of course, the quarterback position is of chief concern. The team traded for Heinicke to upgrade the backup spot but have kept Stick ahead of him on the depth chart so far this season. Chargers fans saw during the preseason that if Stick is given the keys to start the game, things could get ugly.
Steelers come into Week 3 relatively healthy
Looking at the Steelers' injury report, they have slight concerns along the offensive line, but outside of that, no major issues.
Russell Wilson is listed as questionable with his calf injury but all signs are pointing to Justin Fields making his third consecutive start.
On the offensive line, Isaac Seumalo is out with a pectoral injury and rookie Troy Fautanu is questionable with a knee. Reserve tight end MyCole Pruitt will also be out with a knee injury.
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