Khalil Mack still wasn’t in a good mood, even after delivering an epic six-sack day to propel his Los Angeles Chargers to a 24-17 home win over the rival Las Vegas Raiders.
The reason behind his malcontent state? The actions of a certain player on the Silver and Black that got the veteran edge rusher to call “BS.”
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Khalil Mack Calls Out Raiders Defender for Hit on Justin Herbert
Mack and the Charger defense were on the sideline when Jerry Tillery went for this hit on Mack’s prized quarterback teammate Justin Herbert.
Herbert makes Crosby look silly, but then Tillery decides to get dirty: pic.twitter.com/YHGblW1tdz
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) October 1, 2023
Herbert was already out of bounds when Tillery buried his shoulder into the Pro Bowl passer. That controversial hit forced Herbert to the Chargers’ medical tent momentarily.
Tillery was eventually ejected for his actions. Herbert, miraculously, stayed in the game and delivered this dagger to seal the Chargers’ second straight win.
hand off? nah. 51-yard bomb.
📺: @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/l2b7TeWxOx
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 2, 2023
Still, Tillery’s hit was fresh on the mind of Mack. Via Sirius radio personality and Nitecast Media’s Nick Hamilton, Mack didn’t mince words about his feelings toward Tillery.
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“That was bulls***,” Mack bluntly stated. “Jerry knows it, too.”
#BoltUp Khalil Mack on the unnecessary hit Jerry Tillery delivered to QB Justin Herbert
“It’s bulls**t, and Jerry knows it.”(🎥: @NitecastMedia ) pic.twitter.com/sFlfKYwaP8
— Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) October 1, 2023
The positive, though, that Mack took from that play was the Chargers coming together after the hit.
“I liked the response on the sideline,” Mack said.
Even the Chargers’ X account captured the Bolts’ response to the hit on Herbert.
we got ur back, 10. pic.twitter.com/w96tKUhzlp
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 2, 2023
What Was Herbert’s Response to the Hit?
Herbert managed to end his game going 13 of 24 for 167 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and the final 51-yard connection to Josh Palmer that gave L.A. the final first down.
But how did the league’s $262.5 million passer react to sustaining a hit like that?
“Just a flesh wound,” Herbert said to the L.A. media at the podium.
But, like Mack, he also took a liking to the team’s immediate reaction after the hit.
“I thought it was cool how our team reacted,” Herbert said.
And, while Mack was more heated by Tillery’s actions, Herbert chose to take the high road.
“It is what it is, and it’s football, so it’s no hard feelings,” Herbert said.
