Chargers' Staley questioned over Herbert usage in loss

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Should Justin Herbert have stayed on the field so late in Week 3 loss?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 9/26/22

Justin Herbert showed his devotion to his team and his craft on Sunday when he stayed in the Week 3 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being injured. But questions have quickly risen as to whether letting him stay on the field so long was the right call.

The Chargers starting quarterback was surprisingly active for Sunday's game even though he is still dealing with a ribs injury he sustained against the Chiefs in Week 2. He then stayed in the game as Trevor Lawrence and the visiting Jaguars continued to rack up their score, causing many to criticize head coach Brandon Staley for not stepping up and insisting he remove Herbert from the game for health reasons.

In the "young coach looking totally bamboozled and overwhelmed" race Brandon Staley spotted Nathaniel Hackett him a healthy lead thru 2 weeks, then proclaimed: Hold my keg. I'm gonna play Russian Roulette with my franchise QBs ribs cage in a game my defense has no answers for JAX
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 25, 2022

"He wanted to be out there with his teammates," Staley said of the decision to keep Herbert out on the field, via CBS Sports. "He felt good and he wanted to finish the game. He wanted to give our group some energy. We were going to protect him there at the end with really sound protection as best we could, but it was more about him wanting to finish with his guys."

As admirable as all of that is, Los Angeles — and Staley in general — should have been thinking about Herbert's overall health, especially when he's making throws like this with fractured ribs.

Reminder: Justin Herbert has a rib fracture.

What a throw

CBS | Paramount+pic.twitter.com/N7j9hrAW6n
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 25, 2022

Herbert's injury isn't the only one the banged-up Chargers have to contend with, either.

#Chargers LT Rashawn Slater went to the locker room with an injury.

Joey Bosa already left the game.

Keenan Allen is already out with an injury.

JC Jackson is already out with an injury.

Justin Herbert has a ribs injury.

Damn.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 25, 2022

LA should probably, for its own sake, focus a little more on getting healthy at this point of the season. Putting your star players at risk of further injury isn't the best idea, even if those players insist on sticking up for their team.

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