PITTSBURGH —
He performed by way of fractured rib cartilage two years in the past; a damaged left finger final yr. However Justin Herbert couldn’t play by way of this.
The Chargers’ dream begin chipped away right into a nightmare as their star quarterback re-aggravated a proper ankle damage in a 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) on Sunday in entrance of 66,734 at Acrisure Stadium.
Testing their undefeated document in opposition to their first playoff opponent from the earlier season, the Chargers (2-1) left Pittsburgh battered and bruised with key accidents on each side of the ball.
“Not every game’s gonna be a fairy tale ending,” coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned.
Worse than shedding a glass slipper, the Chargers gained a strolling boot. Herbert left the sector together with his proper foot in a grey protecting boot after getting sacked twice whereas throwing for 125 yards and one landing on 12 of 18 passing earlier than Taylor Heinicke entered in reduction.
Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa after the primary defensive play in opposition to the Steelers.
(Matt Freed / Related Press)
Herbert mentioned he acquired X-rays on his ankle and can await additional testing this week with hopes of enjoying subsequent week at SoFi Stadium in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Harbaugh didn’t have updates about accidents to left deal with Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip). Bosa was injured on the primary defensive play of the sport.
Herbert initially suffered the excessive proper ankle sprain throughout final week’s win in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. After lacking two of three days of apply this week, the previous Oregon Geese star mentioned he began to really feel higher throughout Saturday’s walk-through.
Harbaugh noticed how significantly better his quarterback was transferring and felt Herbert might no less than shield himself on the sector, which made him comfy sufficient to permit Herbert to check himself throughout warm-ups Sunday.
However they made an settlement. Harbaugh would make a change on the first signal of misery.
“Warriors,” Harbaugh mentioned, “you give them a shot.”
Herbert accomplished 9 consecutive passes to start the sport because the Chargers clung to a 10-7 lead at halftime, however Herbert might really feel his ankle getting worse all through the sport.
After avoiding main hits through the first half, Herbert acquired swallowed up on a strip sack by Nick Herbig on the second play of the third quarter’s second drive.
Slater, who was among the many top-rated offensive linemen within the league, was injured on the play whereas securing the fumble. Behind a patchwork offensive line that moved proper guard Trey Pipkins III to left deal with and inserted backup Jamaree Salyer at guard, Herbert acquired sacked once more to start the following drive.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is sacked by Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts with assist from Cameron Heyward (97).
(Gene J. Puskar / Related Press)
As he rose off the bottom, Herbert knew he couldn’t proceed.
“My responsibility as a quarterback is to give everything that I can to this team, to my teammates and I felt like I did that,” Herbert mentioned. “I had a tough time walking on it, moving on it, pushing off of it, and I knew that Taylor gave us a better shot to win.”
Heinicke accomplished each of his cross makes an attempt for twenty-four yards, together with a 18-yard completion on third-and-two within the fourth quarter, however was sacked 3 times. The Steelers held the Chargers to minus-five yards of offense within the second half. The working sport was quiet because the NFL’s main rusher J.Ok. Dobbins picked up simply 44 yards on 15 makes an attempt.
“It’s hard to move the ball against those guys,” mentioned Heinicke, who discovered the playbook in three weeks to usurp incumbent backup Easton Stick after becoming a member of the staff in a post-training camp commerce. “You have to be perfect. Can’t hurt yourself.”
Quarterback Taylor Heinicke (8), proven handing the ball off to working again Gus Edwards, made his first look as a Charger.
(Matt Freed / Related Press)
The Chargers protection that starred through the first two wins wilted in opposition to the Steelers, who racked up 234 yards within the second half with 100 of their 114 dashing yards coming after halftime. Missed tackles extended performs. Instantly after Herbert left because the offense hoped for assist in a 10-10 sport, the protection dug a deeper gap by committing three penalties on the identical drive.
An pointless roughness penalty on Derwin James Jr., roughing the passer on Khalil Mack and defensive holding on Asante Samuel Jr. all occurred on third downs. The Steelers turned the errors right into a field-goal drive to take the lead.
“It was like a triple effect,” James mentioned. “We just gotta be clean.”
Steelers quarterback Justin Fields cemented the win with a 55-yard landing cross to Calvin Austin III with 7:02 remaining. Fields, who joined the Steelers after a rocky tenure as a former first-round draft decide by the Chicago Bears, threw for 245 yards and one landing on 25 of 32 passing and scored on a five-yard landing run.
Regardless of his noticeable limp, Herbert nonetheless walked to midfield to greet Fields after the sport. Herbert then slowly walked throughout the sector and up the tunnel, high-fiving one fan on the best way.
