Herbert is now set to wear a protective boot for the next two weeks, which will be followed by what the team are describing as a ‘graduated return to play protocol’, with the ‘expectation’ that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.
The Chargers face the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Week 1, but the fifth-year veteran is now unlikely to feature in preseason, with the injury coming as a blow for new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Herbert ended last season on the sidelines after he suffered a finger injury in December, with the team losing all four of their matches in his absence, as they limped to a 5-12 finish.
Eason Stick was Herbert’s backup last season and will now see the majority of the team’s training camp snaps, with 2023 seventh-rounder Max Duggan and an undrafted rookie Casey Bauman the other QBs on the Chargers’ current 90-man roster.
Herbert had not missed a single game before last season’s injury, playing 62 straight contests, during which he had thrown for 17,223 yards, 114 touchdowns and 42 interceptions, play that saw him earn a five-year $262.5million contract extension 12 months ago.
Harbaugh is renowned for a run-heavy style of football and this preseason setback may see this philosophy further entrenched in Los Angeles, at the start of the season at least.
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