Chargers QB Justin Herbert responds to injury fears after minicamp speculation

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert spoke to the media for the first time since the Houston playoff loss during minicamp. One question that came up is the leg sleeve he has been wearing in spring practices. Fans and media alike wondered if there was an injury reason why Herbert has been wearing it on his right leg.

Per Herbert, there's no reason to be concerned. The star quarterback claims the reason for the sleeve is "to keep everything warm".

"Just knees in general," Herbert said. "Something that over the course of the years it's just best to stay out there and stay loose and stay warm."

Justin Herbert dispels Chargers fans' injury concerns

It's worth noting that this was roughly the same answer Herbert gave when he was asked about the leg sleeve towards the back half of last season.

"It's just to keep my knee warm," Herbert said last November. "Sometimes muscles get sore when you play a football game. And you just gotta do everything you can to keep it warm. Preventing it from having to warm up again. So I think sleeves just help with that."

What is worth noting is that Herbert is wearing the sleeve on his right leg instead of his left leg in spring practices. Last season, Herbert suffered a left ankle injury early on in the season and then detailed knee swelling he was dealing with on the same side in December.

Perhaps it's just purely preferential based on which side needs to be "warmed up" more, but it sounds like he's no longer dealing with any of the issues on his left side at least. As for now, no injury concerns should be had.

The Chargers won't need to report injuries in a real way for a number of months anyway. If Herbert was dealing with something minor, we probably wouldn't even know at this stage of the offseason.

Hopefully, Herbert is able to have a healthy and full training camp unlike last offseason when he dealt with his right foot injury.