The Los Angeles Chargers placed star quarterback Justin Herbert on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. The team also announced that Herbert is set to undergo finger surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Herbert hurt his finger in the second quarter of Sunday’s 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos. He will end his campaign with 3,134 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven picks.
Being placed on Injured Reserve means that Herbert’s streak of 62 starts in the NFL will come to an end. Only Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen had more consecutive starts at the QB position with 84.
“Certainly, there’s nothing more important than that, than his right hand. And his long-term future,” said Chargers’ head coach Brandon Staley said of Herbert. “He’s 25 years old, and he’s got a really, really bright future in front of him. So, like I said, every decision we make is going to be with that in mind.”
It makes sense for the Chargers to shut down Herbert considering their playoff chances are slim-to-none. The LA team has a 5-8 record and even winning out their remaining four games wouldn’t guarantee a spot in the postseason.
With Herbert out, the Chargers will turn to backup Easton Stick. The former fifth-round pick replaced Herbert in the Broncos game and completed 13 out of 24 pass attempts while throwing for 179 yards.
