EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh announced Monday that X-ray results on Justin Herbert’s aggravated upper right ankle sprain were negative.
That was the only concrete information Harbaugh revealed about some key injuries suffered in the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Chargers returned to their facility Monday after a nine-day road trip to Charlotte and Pittsburgh, but were shaken up. Herbert aggravated a high-ankle sprain in the third quarter against the Steelers and was in a walking boot after the game. Harbaugh said Monday he was “certain” the Chargers would also “do an MRI” on Herbert’s ankle.
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The Chargers’ two starting tackles were also injured in the game. Left tackle Rashawn Slater injured his left pectoral muscle in the second quarter. He wore a brace during halftime and attempted to return in the second half, but left the game after being strip-sacked early in the third quarter. Rookie right tackle Joe Alto injured his right foot on the final offensive snap of Sunday’s loss and was seen limping significantly in the locker room after the game. Multiple reports indicate that Alto is suffering from a sprained MCL in his right knee.
Additionally, edge rusher Joey Bosa aggravated a hip injury on the first defensive play of the game. He returned on a third down late in the first quarter. That was the last snap he played. Bosa broke his hand in training camp. He injured his back in the season opener and was limited to 14 snaps in Week 2. On those 14 snaps, he suffered a hip injury.
The Chargers have four of their best players injured as Harbaugh prepares to face the division rival Kansas City Chiefs in his first game as coach in Los Angeles.
“Today is really going to be a day of evaluation and treatment for everybody,” Harbaugh said, “and we’ll have a more concrete update by Wednesday.”
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Harbaugh was asked Monday if Herbert was still in his walking boot.
“I don’t know about that,” he said.
After the game, Coach Harbaugh said Slater’s injury “appears to be a pectoral muscle strain.”
Chargers star pass rusher Joey Bosa leaves the field with a team trainer on Sunday. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
When asked Monday if there was any new information on Slater’s injury, Harbaugh said, “Everybody was evaluated and treated today. We’ll have more information to share when the injury report is released on Wednesday.”
When asked if Alto’s injury was a knee injury, Harbaugh said, “I’ll have more details to share on Wednesday.”
Harbaugh said he didn’t know if Bosa’s hip injury was “back-related.”
“We will have more concrete information by Wednesday,” he added.
With both starting tackles injured, there could be some changes up front. When Slater was injured on Sunday, the Chargers initially started Jamaree Salyer at left tackle. But after Salyer was badly beaten on the initial replay, the Chargers moved Salyer to inside right guard and started Trey Pipkins III at left tackle. Pipkins injured the middle finger on his left hand during the game. Training staff had a splint on his finger as Pipkins left the locker room Sunday night.
The options at tackle are Pipkins and Foster Surrell. Alex Leatherwood is also on the practice squad. Coach Harbaugh said Monday that Salyer has “put in more time at the guard position.” If Alt and Slater are unavailable, the possible starters are Sarrell at LT, Zion Johnson at LG, Bradley Bozeman at C, Salyer at RG and Pipkins at RT.
The Chargers also have the option of moving Bozeman to right guard and putting Brenden James at center.
The defense was awful after Slater left the game, and Taylor Heinicke, who replaced Herbert in the third quarter, was sacked three times on two drives.
“We had some sequences defensively where we just didn’t put the ball where we needed to,” Harbaugh said.
If Herbert is unavailable, Heinicke will likely be in line to start Sunday. The Chargers have Week 5 off.
Harbaugh said he had no regrets about using Herbert, who completed 12 of 16 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
“I think it’s good,” Harbaugh said of the decision-making process. “The doctors look at it, they give you the OK, and then you look at it, can he play? Can he do what he needs to do and protect himself? And does he feel like he can play? All those things are pieces of the puzzle. I thought he played great. He played really well. Nearly perfect. Just a great game the whole time he was out there.”
“The other side is, no, you can’t play. We’re going to take it out of your hands. We’re going to make a warrior stop being a warrior. I don’t agree with that. And that’s Justin Herbert. There’s no one like him born.”
When asked if the Chargers plan to rest Herbert more this week than they did last week, Harbaugh said, “We’re just going to take it one day at a time.”
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(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
