Justin Herbert suffered both a leg contusion and sprained ankle in the LA Chargers' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14. Herbert's injuries not only impacted the game vs. the Chiefs but held him out of practice on Wednesday as well.
Thankfully, Herbert took a step in the right direction on Thursday and his status for Week 15's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is much clearer.
Herbert returned to practice on Thursday and was seen with a heavy wrap around his affected right ankle. However, didn't look to be compromised in any significant way and should be on track to play barring to play Sunday barring a last-minute setback.
Reloaded: Justin Herbert content pic.twitter.com/7XhvEr554G
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) December 12, 2024
Justin Herbert returns to Chargers practice Thursday
Those who have followed Herbert and the Chargers closely know that it is highly unlikely for the star quarterback to miss Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. After all, Herbert suffered a more severe high ankle sprain earlier this season and did not miss a single game.
This is the same quarterback who fractured a finger on his non-throwing hand last season and played through fractured rib cartilage in 2022. Unfortunately, Herbert has been through some things in the NFL and is not shy about playing through injuries.
The big question is what kind of impact this injury will have on the game itself. The Chargers' offense has been at its best when it utilizes Herbert's athleticism as a rusher and a bum ankle would completely take that out of the equation.
With no J.K. Dobbins to lean on in the running game and Ladd McConkey banged up, this could further stifle an offense that already has a low ceiling.
Thankfully for the Chargers, the Bucs have one of the worst secondaries in the sport and are vulnerable to being thrown on. If there was ever a game for Herbert to turn in a vintage passing performance, it is against this Bucs team.
The Chargers still have guaranteed Herbert's status for Week 15 and with how the team operates, it would not be all that surprising if the star quarterback is given a questionable designation leading into Sunday.
However, with Herbert returning to practice on Thursday, Chargers fans can be extremely confident that he will suit up and give it a go against Tampa Bay.