Justin Herbert dinged up his left middle finger in Sunday’s tough loss to the Texans. Imaging showed it wasn’t broken, which is a massive sigh of relief, right? So you’d think he’d at least be listed on the Chargers’ injury report as they begin their week, even if he was a full participant. Nope. The man’s name is nowhere on their first injury report this week as they prep for the Ravens.
The Herbert Enigma
This is wild, people. We’re talking about a quarterback who just took a shot to his throwing hand in a game, and he’s completely off the report. It’s not like the Chargers are just being careful and listing everyone. They’ve got a whopping 18 players on that first report! EIGHTEEN. But the guy who just had his finger scanned? Poof, gone. Is it mind games with the Ravens? Or is the finger truly 100% fine, which is amazing news if true, especially for a *winless* Chargers team desperate for a spark against a Ravens squad looking to right the ship.
The Rest of the Hospital Report
While Herbert is apparently a ghost on the injury front, the rest of the Chargers’ roster looks like they ran through a woodchipper. Nine players were completely out of practice on Thursday. That’s almost a whole side of the ball, folks! We’re talking wide receiver Ladd McConkey with a back issue, outside linebacker Khalil Mack getting some ‘rest’ which usually means he’s banged up, and linebacker Daiyan Henley out for personal reasons. On the defensive line, Justin Eboigbe is nursing an ankle, and on the offensive line, Branson Taylor has an ankle problem too. Wideout Brenen Thompson is dealing with a hamstring, cornerback Isas Waxter has an ankle, and safety Kendall Williamson is out with a calf. Plus, offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III didn’t practice either, dealing with a personal matter and a knee issue in his second week of return-to-practice. They’ve also got offensive guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), wide receiver Tre’ Harris (shoulder), cornerback Cam Hart (ankle), running back Keaton Mitchell (hip), and defensive back Deane Leonard (concussion) on the report. That’s a whole lot of guys hurting as they get ready for a tough Monday night matchup.
So, the Chargers are limping, figuratively and literally, into a Monday night clash with the Ravens. Herbert’s finger not being broken is huge, but his name not even being on the injury report at all is the real head-scratcher. Every single one of those other 18 injured players means a deeper bench, more pressure on the remaining healthy guys, especially for a winless team. It’s going to be a battle, and we’ll see if Herbert’s ‘un-injured’ finger can lead them to that elusive first win.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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