Another playoff caliber team could be forced to make its postseason push with a backup quarterback behind center.
In the first half of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was knocked from the game after suffering a finger injury. Initially, the Chargers listed Herbert as questionable, but after halftime, officially ruled Herbert 'out.'
Broncos linebacker Zach Allen hit Herbert, forcing an incompletion and appearing to cause the quarterback's injury.
Herbert departed Sunday's contest after passing for 96 yards with one interception on just 9-of-17 attempts, by midway through the second quarter, at the time of the injury.
The Chargers' offense never quite found its footing with Easton Stick behind center.
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As the fourth quarter got underway, Los Angeles trailed Denver 17-0, with Stick passing for only 56 yards. Stick was making just his second career appearance, after being chosen in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Sunday's game was pivotal to the Chargers' fading playoff hopes, as Los Angeles entered Week 14 at just 5-7. If the Chargers are forced to play extended time, beyond the conclusion of Sunday's game, with Stick as the starter, it could be a significant struggle for Los Angeles to climb back into the AFC Playoff picture.
Earlier this season, Herbert suffered a fractured middle finger, but has proceeded to pass for 3,038 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Coincidentally, Herbert's fractured finger also came against an AFC West foe, the Las Vegas Raiders, back in Week 4 of the 2023 season.
The initial belief, is that this finger injury happens to be Herbert's right index finger, so not the same finger that he hurt earlier this season.
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