EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s residence recreation towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As well as, edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip) and left sort out Rashawn Slater (pec) have been dominated out for Sunday. Proper sort out Joe Alt (knee) is questionable.
Herbert has been nursing a excessive ankle sprain since Week 2. He aggravated the damage in Week 3 towards the Pittsburgh Steelers. Herbert was pulled within the third quarter of that recreation and didn’t return. He was listed as restricted in apply Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.
“He stated he felt higher at the moment than he did final Friday,” coach Jim Harbaugh stated after Friday’s apply.
Herbert was in a position to do “extra” this week in apply than he did final week, Harbaugh stated. That included seven-on-seven drills and full staff drills in Friday’s apply.
“Listed as questionable, and we’ll see,” Harbaugh stated. “That’s the most effective that I can do so far as predicting something.”
If he begins, Herbert will seemingly be taking part in behind a number of backups on the offensive line. Alt is coping with an MCL sprain in his proper knee, in accordance with an individual conversant in the damage. He didn’t apply this week, although he was working off to the facet with the coaching workers Thursday and Friday.
With each Slater and Alt out of form, the Chargers used this offensive line grouping throughout the parts of apply open to media: left sort out Jamaree Salyer, left guard Zion Johnson, middle Bradley Bozeman, proper guard Sam Mustipher and proper sort out Trey Pipkins.
Pipkins was the beginning proper guard for the primary three video games. He kicked out to left sort out after Slater suffered his left pec pressure towards the Steelers. Salyer had initially gone into the sport at left sort out, however he was beat on his first rep there, and the Chargers made a fast change. Salyer moved to proper guard and Pipkins changed him at left sort out.
Harbaugh stated Friday that Salyer stays a “nice choice” at left sort out. Salyer performed almost 1,000 snaps at left sort out in 2022 when Slater missed many of the 12 months with a torn left bicep.
Mustipher is on the apply squad however is a candidate to be elevated for Sunday’s recreation. He has been primarily a middle in his profession. He has performed three regular-season snaps at guard, which got here at left guard with the Baltimore Ravens final season.
“I like him as a soccer participant,” Harbaugh stated of Mustipher. “He’s a succesful — very succesful — powerful, robust, reliable man. There’s alternative, so I really feel actually good about Sam.”
Linebacker Junior Colson (hamstring) has additionally been dominated out for Sunday’s recreation. Cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee), cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula), returner Derius Davis (hamstring) and cornerback Deane Leonard (hamstring) are questionable.
Fulton was a full participant in Friday’s apply. Leonard pulled his hamstring throughout the apply. Taylor and Davis didn’t take part.
An under-the-radar byproduct of the Chargers’ prolonged damage report: Particular groups coordinator Ryan Ficken is coping with a depleted roster. Taylor and Leonard are his beginning gunners. Edge rusher Chris Rumph II and linebacker Nick Niemann, two of the Chargers’ most skilled core-four particular groups gamers, are on injured reserve. Colson, one other core-four participant, has not practiced in two weeks.
Now Davis, Ficken’s beginning returner on punts and kickoffs, is in peril of not taking part in. And apply squad linebacker Shaq Quartermam, who performed 58 particular groups snaps within the first three video games of the season, is out of elevations.
The Chargers signed linebacker Blake Lynch to the apply squad this week as reinforcements. Lynch performed 131 particular groups snaps for Ficken and the Chargers final season.
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(Photograph: Brandon Sloter / Getty Photos)
