Will Justin Herbert Play in the Highly Anticipated Chiefs vs. Chargers Week Four Matchup?

The Los Angeles Chargers suffered their first loss of the season under new head coach sensation, Jim Harbaugh, in a hard-fought Week Three matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers controlled much of the first half, but as injuries mounted, the Steelers capitalized and ultimately secured a gritty victory. The most significant blow for the Chargers was the re-injury of quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert, already nursing a high ankle sprain from the previous week's win against the Carolina Panthers, looked like his vintage self early on.

However, his injury was aggravated in the second quarter when Steelers' defensive tackle Cam Heyward delivered a hit to Herbert's lower right leg. Herbert was forced to exit the game and was replaced by Taylor Heinicke, changing the complexion of the contest entirely. Now, sitting at 2-1, the Chargers face a critical test with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs looming in Week Four. Kansas City has long been the team to beat in the AFC West, and every game between the Chargers and Chiefs carries heightened stakes. Yet, the Chargers find themselves in a tough predicament, especially with the health of their star quarterback in question.

The Chargers, known for pulling out all the stops against the Chiefs in hopes of snagging a crucial early season win, are in an unusual position this year. This time, the smart move may be one that fans could find hard to accept: benching Justin Herbert. Herbert has been dealing with several injury setbacks over the years. In 2023, he suffered a season-ending injury, and in the offseason, he faced additional challenges with a plantar fascia injury during training camp.

Now, he's playing through a high ankle sprain, which has already shown itself to be a difficult obstacle. After Thursday's limited practice, followed by an absence on Wednesday, his status for Week Four remains uncertain. The risk of further aggravating the ankle injury is high, and as was made painfully clear during the Steelers game, the slightest hit or wrong move could force Herbert into a longer recovery. Following the Chiefs game, the Chargers have a bye week, and that could offer Herbert 20 days of rest — time that could be critical to his full recovery.

For the Chargers, the rivalry with Kansas City runs deep. Fans and players alike are always fired up to face the reigning AFC West Champions. Normally, the Chargers would put everything on the line in this game. However, with Herbert not at 100%, playing him could be a major gamble. Kansas City is a powerhouse, and without a fully healthy Herbert — not to mention the possibility of playing without both starting tackles, Joe Alt & Rashawn Slater — the odds of the Chargers pulling off a win are slim. The reality is that this is not the time for the Chargers to risk further injury to their franchise quarterback, especially when the likelihood of winning the game remains low, even with Herbert on the field.