Justin Herbert is one of the brightest young stars in the NFL today. However, things haven’t gone so smoothly for the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback lately, and with the latest news that he is set to miss some time due to an injury, that trend continues.
What Happened to Justin Herbert?
Training camp injuries are the worst part of football returning. With the NFL back in action, we have seen a number of players across the league fall victim to an injury that will cost them time leading up to the season.
Such is the case for Herbert, as the Charger’s official X account (formerly known as Twitter) provided an update on the ongoing situation.
Following yesterday’s practice, Justin Herbert was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.
Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot — followed by a graduated return to play protocol — with the expectation that he will be ready for the…
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 1, 2024
“Following yesterday’s practice, Justin Herbert was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.
“Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot — followed by a graduated return to play protocol — with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season.”
The timing is bad for Herbert and the Chargers. Not that there’s ever a good time to get hurt, but when you are knee-deep into Year 1 of a new head coach and a new offense, the starters need all the reps they can get with their star quarterback as they prepare for the start of the NFL season.
Now with Herbert sidelined, it calls for an increase in reps for QB2 Easton Stick, while Max Duggan and Casey Bauman will surely see an uptick in work as well.
Should Fantasy Managers Be Concerned About Herbert?
With fantasy drafts beginning or on the horizon, the question regarding Herbert is, how does this impact his fantasy stock?
According to Pro Football Network’s Fantasy Football Analyst Derek Tate, drafters should be cautious about taking Herbert this season.
“Fantasy managers were already a bit low on the fantasy outlook of Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert after the losses of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler this offseason,” Tate begins.
“Unfortunately, reports suggest Herbert is dealing with plantar fascia in his right foot, which could cost him some time developing rapport with his new WRs over the next few weeks.
Herbert posted a career-low 3,134 passing yards and 20 passing TDs last year after sustaining a finger injury that cost him the final four games of the regular season.
“Another factor that could cap Herbert’s fantasy ceiling in 2024 is the presence of a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) and offensive coordinator (Greg Roman) — who both have a lengthy track record of running the football extensively.”
While Tate isn’t telling people to avoid Herbert outright this year, there are certainly some glaring red flags as we enter the draft season, and this injury certainly doesn’t help the cause.
Will Herbert Be Ready For Week 1?
The goal is always to have your starting quarterback ready to go for Week 1, but in the case of Herbert and the Chargers, despite the positivity in their social media message, his availability appears to be up in the air right now.
Herbert is expected to be in a walking boot for about two weeks. If all goes well, he will then begin to work back gradually from there.
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With the NFL’s opening night just five weeks away, it seems doable for Herbert to play in Week 1, but it’s far from a guarantee right now.
The team seems optimistic, but it all depends on how Herbert progresses in the coming weeks.
Chargers’ Quarterback Depth Chart
The Chargers’ quarterback options behind Herbert are a bit unsettling. With Easton Stick playing in five games last season, and one in his rookie year, he looks to be the most seasoned option on the roster right now if Herbert were to miss time.
In Stick’s five games last season, he completed 64% of his passes for 1,133 yards and threw three touchdowns and only one interception.
He is also dynamic with his legs and a true duel threat when given the chance to run. Stick finished the year with 27 rushing attempts, 144 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown.
MORE: Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
He isn’t quite the quarterback that Herbert is, and the offense would look vastly different with him under center. However, if forced into action, this coaching staff will need to get him ready for action.
Beyond Stick is Max Duggan, the former TCU star, and rookie Casey Bauman, an undrafted free agent who played at Montana State and Augustana. Neither has appeared in an NFL game and while they may not see action in the regular season unless something drastically changes, the Chargers will be sure to get them ready to go in case that scenario unfolds.