With preseason getting started, the regular season is just around the corner. However, training camp injuries are happening, and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is one victim so far this summer. While it’s not considered to be a major injury, one former NFL quarterback explained why he is very concerned.
Chase Daniel Explains Why Justin Herbert’s Injury Is Very Concerning
On Thursday afternoon, the Chargers announced that Herbert is suffering from plantar fasciitis, a foot injury that will force him to wear a walking boot for approximately two weeks, followed by a gradual return to play protocol. They also said that the expectation is for him to be ready for Week 1.
However, in The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast featuring Chase Daniel and Dianna Russini, Daniel revealed that the injury isn’t as simple as the Chargers are reporting.
“Expectation. They expect it. That doesn’t mean he’s coming back,” Daniel said. “That’s a little bit of a scary tweet.”
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Daniel went on to share that he had previously dealt with the same injury in the same foot.
“The interesting thing, Dianna, about a quarterback dealing with a right plantar fascia injury is that it’s their plant leg. So when they’re going back to drop, all their weight is on the back right heel,” Daniel said. “It feels like there’s a million pins in the bottom of your heel.”
Plantar fasciitis is a foot injury that causes inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes and forming the arch of the foot.
“I think this is a much bigger deal than the Chargers’ tweet seemed to suggest,” Daniel said. “This gradual protocol to play, that’s great. New offense, first year with Greg Roman, new head coach Jim Harbaugh, new system, new receiving corps, new everything, and Justin’s going to miss the bulk of camp and then he’s supposed to just get in there and pick it up the first week. I just don’t know.”
Will Herbert Be Ready for Week 1?
According to the team, Herbert is expected to be ready to play in Week 1. However, as Daniel said, the question will not be about his health but more so how ready and acclimated to the new offense he is.
“The preparation, the work continues,” Harbaugh said following practice on Thursday, showing no concern for the time and preparation on the field Herbert will miss. “He’s not on the field, in practice, but in the meeting room, still in the training environment, that chemistry, that rapport you build with those position players, with his teammates, that continues.”
In addition to new head coach Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Roman, meaning there will be an entirely new scheme and playbook to learn, Herbert will also need to gain a repertoire with his weapons on offense.
This offseason, the Chargers parted ways with long-time wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and they let Austin Ekeler walk in free agency.
While receivers like Joshua Palmer and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston return from last season, the rest of their receiving core is filled with mostly new players. Most notably, they drafted Ladd McConkey in the second round and Brenden Rice in the seventh round in this year’s NFL Draft. DJ Chark Jr. also figures to be in the mix after signing a one-year deal with the Chargers in May.
Elsewhere on offense, Herbert has two new tight ends in Will Dissly and Hayden Hurst, and former Baltimore Ravens running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins make up their revamped running back room.
Los Angeles Chargers’ QB Depth Chart
With Herbert out, the Chargers will lean on their three backup quarterbacks to pick up the slack. Leading the pack is Easton Stick, who has been with the Chargers since they drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
After Herbert missed the last four weeks of last season with a broken finger, Stick filled in as the starting quarterback and threw for 950 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, but the Chargers went 0-4 in those games. According to TruMedia, out of 35 quarterbacks with at least 100 snaps during that period, Stick ranked 26th in QB rating and 30th in expected points added.
MORE: Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
Neither of the other quarterbacks in Max Duggan and undrafted free agent Casey Bauman have any NFL experience, however.
On Friday’s podcast with Russini, Daniel was asked if he’d consider joining the Chargers once again, having played for them from 2021-22. However, while Daniel didn’t shut the door, he didn’t fully open it either.
With Justin Herbert sidelined for at least 2 weeks, could the Chargers turn to a familiar face?
My co-host QB @chasedaniel talks about a potential reunion #boltup
🎧 https://t.co/pij0lrF5KO pic.twitter.com/PBMCfnAGdX
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 2, 2024
“I don’t know. They haven’t reached out yet, it makes a lot of sense, but I don’t know,” Daniel said. “The number has to be right for me to go back. I’m not completely closing the door, but we got a good thing going here. I’ve got some other good stuff brewing, I haven’t played in about a year and a half. … I’m not gonna close the door on it right now.”
