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Chris Lim, ESPN
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a right ankle sprain that makes him questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and is preparing for the game, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Herbert had a successful week without any setbacks and is feeling better than he did last weekend, giving him a chance to play on Sunday, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Herbert sprained his right ankle in the Chargers Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. Ahead of the team’s Week 3 game against the Steelers, Herbert limped and missed two days of practice, but eventually started against the Steelers. However, Herbert aggravated his sprain in the third quarter of the game and was unable to finish.
Herbert left Pittsburgh in a walking boot after the 20-10 loss, but said Wednesday the aggravation didn’t hold him back.
“I feel better than I did last Wednesday,” Herbert said. “And as long as we keep moving forward and keep getting better, we’re not going to have those setbacks. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Unlike the week leading up to the game against the Steelers, Herbert practiced every day this week, and the team listed him as a limited participant on the daily injury report.
Herbert said he has been participating in 7-on-7 drills and is doing everything he can to be there.
The Chargers have a Week 5 bye and the team has had conversations about Herbert sitting out this week to rest and recover, but “I didn’t think that was the way we were going,” Herbert said Wednesday.
Herbert will enter a less-than-ideal situation Sunday with left tackle Rashawn Slater (pectoral) out and right tackle Joe Alt (MCL sprain) questionable. Alt didn’t practice all week, but worked out separately with a trainer during practice.
Still, Herbert said he has faith in the team’s backup and isn’t worried about aggravating the injury Sunday.
“I don’t think worrying is too much work. It doesn’t really help,” he said. “I check every day to see how I feel and if there are any issues, it’s not safe to go out, it’s not wise to go out to play, but I’m getting better.”
