Regardless of a down season, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert remains to be among the finest quarterbacks within the NFL. At 25 years previous, the Oregon product has most likely not but reached his prime, which makes the workforce’s choice to close him down for the season the proper one, nevertheless troublesome.
Though the Chargers (5-8) are nonetheless technically alive within the AFC playoff picture, they realistically don’t have any shot, particularly with out Herbert below heart. The ESPN Football Power Index provides head coach Brandon Staley’s membership only a 0.6% probability of constructing the postseason, which is best than solely 4 groups within the convention.
Los Angeles has dropped 4 of its final 5 contests and after a winnable Week 15 battle with the Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) on “Thursday Evening Soccer” developing, the workforce faces a troublesome three-game stretch to shut the marketing campaign. The Chargers host the Buffalo Payments (7-6) in Week 16, tackle the red-hot Denver Broncos (7-6) in Week 17 and shut the common season with a Week 18 dwelling bout with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (8-5). Los Angeles fell to the Chiefs 31-17 in Week 7 on the street and have been simply blown out by the Broncos at dwelling 24-7 on Sunday.
Kansas Metropolis is preventing to carry onto their spot atop the AFC West, whereas Buffalo and Denver are simply on the surface trying in of the playoff image, so all three groups ought to be taking part in with further motivation.
With the Chargers all however out of it, there’d be no motive to push Herbert by way of the damage and danger additional harm. Taking part in behind one of many worst offensive strains within the league in latest seasons, Herbert has already performed by way of fractured rib cartilage and a damaged left center finger.
The group has dedicated to the one-time Professional Bowler long-term, signing him to a five-year contract extension in July. Now, they’re making the good transfer in attempting to verify he is wholesome and able to go in 2024.