Going into Monday Night Football, it looked like there was a chance the L.A. Chargers would see rookie cornerback Cam Hart take the field.
Hart had been in concussion protocol leading up to the weekend, but did not end up playing against the Baltimore Ravens in their Week 12 matchup.
The curious aspect of Hart being inactive came when reports stated he was listed as being out due to not only a concussion, but an ankle injury as well. Just prior to kickoff, Hart was designated inactive with a description of "concussion/ankle."
Following the loss to Baltimore, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters a bit more about Hart's status. We knew about the concussion, but it was mostly news to everyone when Harbaugh noted Hart suffered an injury during Saturday's practice after being asked about the rookie being in a walking boot.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh says CB Cam Hart suffered an injury in Saturday's practice in response to a question about his walking boot.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) November 26, 2024
The ankle injury flew under the radar and wasn't originally reported, so this comes as additional bad news after watching the Chargers take a tough loss.
Hart had been arguably the best cornerback on the team this year and became an integral part of this defense, especially after the injury to standout corner Asante Samuel Jr. With Samuel having been on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury, Hart had some big shoes to fill.
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There were odds that Hart could end up having to fill those shoes for quite some time, too, as Samuel's injury outlook is still murky. Now, if Hart ends up missing any more games, the Chargers could be in serious trouble.
Cam Hart's injury could single-handedly derail the Chargers down the stretch
Hart's absence was felt on a few specific occasions Monday night, but Lamar Jackson didn't exactly go off through the air. Instead, the Ravens were able to run the ball well just as they typically do thanks to Derrick Henry and Jackson, specifically.
But, over their next three games, the Chargers would desperately miss Hart if he were to be absent. To kick things off, the Chargers' next game is against the fifth-best passing offense in football, the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta is also in the midst of losing two games in a row and hold a slim lead in the NFC South, so they'll come into this one hungry.
Next up, the Chargers face an always-tough divisional rival, the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Throw all stats out the window in this one. It's Mahomes, and the Chargers need Hart.
From there, L.A. will take on the current ninth-best passing offense in the league in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Needless to say, we're hoping this injury isn't of significant nature.