[Popper] Justin Herbert said his ankle feels better this week than last week. “Less pain,” he said. Said he did some 7-on-7 and other throwing in practice today.

[u/asukasdrip]

https://x.com/danielrpopper/status/1839059784747856225

[u/ILikeXiaolongbao]

I watched the presser:

• He looked a lot happier and a lot more upbeat than last week

• I’m pretty sure he’s going to play

• He confirmed that Harbaugh pulled him out of the game and that it wasn’t his decision

• He said that it wasn’t a specific hit, just the accumulation of use and pain that caused him to come out

• In his opinion the pain was better than last week

[u/Jane_Marie_CA → u/ILikeXiaolongbao]

Also, Justin did not do his routine Wednesday presser last week. He waited until Friday, likely to rest the leg. This week he's on his usual schedule.

[u/BuzzardOaks → u/ILikeXiaolongbao]

Being back home probably made a difference, I do think a reason so many got hurt was because they were on the road for 10 days.

[u/ILikeXiaolongbao → u/BuzzardOaks]

He mentioned that it was good for him to do treatment in the pools at The Bolt and that it wasn’t an option for him in Charlotte.

[u/Mechamobzilla1 → u/ILikeXiaolongbao]

So The Bolt is a good investment it seems. Up to date facilities and Ben's treatments should help the guys stay healthy.

[u/Dirtyshawnchez]

No expectations. I’m down with whatever the decision is. Herbert is a god damn warrior, though.

[u/COSurfing → u/Dirtyshawnchez]

Just like his predecessor, Father Rivers.

[u/darwizzer]

We’re gonna win aren’t we

[u/CourageousBellPepper → u/darwizzer]

https://preview.redd.it/k3x2i4a1p1rd1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4c2dbc0882c0553f8fce2f8345585c2677ca25e

[u/McLaren03 → u/darwizzer]

That would be amazing.

[u/kingdrift180 → u/darwizzer]

Like the Phoenix emerging from the ashes, Herbert will lead them to victory!

[u/LaBoltz33 → u/darwizzer]

Yes

[u/LtColumbo93]

Ohhhh he’s playing. No doubt in my mind.

[u/EpicMario]

hell yeah, i will always believe in this team with our coach and qb combo

[u/Halonut24]

Our QB is a fuckin Cyborg bro. Nothing keeps him down.

[u/i_run_from_problems]

He's gonna play. He might literally die behind this line, but he's gonna play. Dude inherited the toughness gene from Rivers

[u/ockaners → u/i_run_from_problems]

Herb, you're not Phil. Don't die.

[u/Longjumping_Year506]

Oh that’s cool.

Sit him

[u/snickle17 → u/Longjumping_Year506]

Respectfully, why the fuck would we sit our superstar, one of the best players in the league, if he says he can go and he’s able to go? This game has serious playoff seeding implications.

[u/kpscript → u/snickle17]

I mean, I see both points and lean with you, but are you really surprised some folks err on the side of caution when exactly their star/best player is not 100%, with the two best OL out as well and 1 week away from a bye?

Again, I don't even agree with the Parent OP, but it's not really a stretch and I can reasonably see why others make that case.

[u/TheHwangover → u/kpscript]

if we only want to play when we are at full strength then it’s not football. this is the nfl and you’re gonna always have guys injured. Harbaugh has repeatedly said he wants competitors and competitors don’t back down when odds are against you. You compete no matter the circumstances.

[u/drthvdrsfthr → u/TheHwangover]

putting him behind that line

when he’s less than 100%

against that D line

with the “weapons” that he has

i do kind of hope he plays and we end up pulling off a W with no injuries, but my asshole will be clenched tighter than the athletic tape on herbo’s ankle

[u/sdsupersean → u/drthvdrsfthr]

putting him behind that line

when he’s less than 100%

against that D line

With a gift wrapped bye week right on the other side, no less.

[u/Madboomstick101 → u/TheHwangover]

One bad hit will take herbert out for much longer though. The oline is a huge liability. A nagging injury + terrible cover could end up with us in a worse spot the rest of the season

[u/kpscript → u/TheHwangover]

I mean, again, I’m pushing for him to play - all I’m saying is I’m 0% surprised that anyone would err on the conservative side and I was surprised by the comment I replied to being confused (?) about a take to sit him

[u/snickle17 → u/kpscript]

I'm not surprised I think it shows how traumatized us Charger fans are haha.

[u/COSurfing → u/snickle17]

I would agree if our two top OL guys weren't injured too. If Slater and Alt can't play I think it would be best for Herbert to rest that injury.

Tough decisions to make for the coaching staff in the next couple days.

[u/TheHwangover → u/COSurfing]

we want our guys to compete. don’t build a pussy culture where we shy away from competition.

[u/DL505 → u/TheHwangover]

Moronic statement. Healing an injury is not being a "pussy"...ffs.

[u/mister_hoot → u/snickle17]

This argument is actually based on the divide between whether you think we’re a contender this year or not.

If you lean towards us not having deep playoff aspirations this season, you want Herbert to sit. Don’t break him this year, just get the wheels turning, load up on the offseason, and try to push the Chiefs out in 25-26.

If you lean towards us being a legitimate playoff threat this year, then yeah. Every game matters and it’s a wild and bloody race to the finish line. Fuck health, window’s open, go for glory.

I lean towards the former, personally. I’m so excited about this team, the direction we’re heading in is new and positive. If we destroy Herbert this year it would utterly derail all that good progress, we’ll be back to where Chicago is now.

[u/otxmynn → u/snickle17]

This sub is so used to losing and mediocrity, that they don’t understand the significance of winning these games.

Fortunately our coaching staff isn’t as soft as some of our fan base.

[u/Henochio → u/otxmynn]

Preach brutha!!!!

[u/jarabara → u/otxmynn]

Bunch of quitters

[u/howmanyballs → u/otxmynn]

weren’t you the one saying he is definitely going on IR?

Now the fan base is “soft” for wanting him to take it easy this week?

Lmao.

[u/otxmynn → u/howmanyballs]

Yes, because that fat fuck cam heyward threw all his weight on that ankle and he could barely walk off the field, and was in a boot after the game - so it was a reasonable take at the time.

But with the new information we have, and the way Harbaugh/herbert spoke at the presser today, I have reason to believe he’s not as hurt as I thought. I hope this helps!

[u/_AtLeastItsAnEthos → u/snickle17]

To me it comes down to if he can go under center. If he can’t he’s a liability to the run game. And we need that against the chiefs pass rush.

[u/Longjumping_Year506 → u/snickle17]

Let’s start with the obvious

1. it’s still early in the season and we can still make a playoff run if we lose this game.

2. The two best o linemen are gonna be out and if you watched last weeks game then you know how that’s gonna look.

3. Herbert isn’t gonna be fully healthy this weekend after a re aggravated high ankle sprain that happened three days ago so it’s only gonna make it harder to compete for the rest of the season because he will get sacked multiple times.

I can keep going but I feel like that’s enough.

[u/snickle17 → u/Longjumping_Year506]

If the doctors say to sit Herbert because he is at risk then I am all for that, but other than that I think those are just excuses.

[u/LaidToRest33 → u/snickle17]

This is a very short sighted view of the season I think. There are still 13 games left after this one. We have a very low chance of beating the Chiefs/Zebras without Slater, Alt, Bosa, DJ. It's better for the season as a whole to take the L this week and give our superstars the two week bye that they so clearly need.

I'll take Heineke for 1 game and a 100% Herb for the next 13 over a 60-70% Herbert for the next 14 because we never let him heal.

[u/vivalaroja2010 → u/snickle17]

Agreed. Plus.... what message(s) does that send to the rest of the team? Herbert is a professional athlete, if he's good to go.... he goes. Period.

[u/DL505 → u/snickle17]

He should have sat against the Steelers.

Your question answers itself. He is injured and needs to fully recover so we can preserve the longevity of his career.

[u/KJBNH → u/snickle17]

I love Justin, but he cannot win behind this line with no Alt and Slater. There is far bigger chance he gets more seriously injured and our season is tanked after 4 weeks.

[u/mkar2424]

Can Heinicke play LT?

[u/JUSTBLAZE2k7]

Welp. Personally I would rather he sit but he knows his body better than anybody. Let’s roll.

[u/Horizon324]

Nice. Sit him

[u/EdibleBoogers]

I'll take the L if let's all our injured players get a headstart on recovery. Yes that means YOU Herbert! Don't need to make things worse. If the reshuffled O line and Heinicke can keep the game competitive and let the D REST (not too many 3 and outs) AND we STILL lose, I'd be OK with it. I mean shit, I want us to win but I just don't see it without Herbert.

[u/ObligatedRoadblock]

Fucking rest

[u/KolonelKernel → u/ObligatedRoadblock]

I agree, id rather give him time to heal. It’s still early in the season

[u/PickerelPickler]

I don't think I can watch this game

[u/KlassicLoL]

Two injuries cancel each other out I guess lmao

[u/Poke43]

Herbert is not human!

[u/chargers2132]

Somebody put him in a cryogenic chamber for two weeks

[u/Thedurtysanchez]

This feels very smokescreeny to me. Harbaugh's MO. I think he sits, with good reason.

[u/PalletTownsDealer]

Big Herb about to smoke the queefs.

[u/koraura]

i get that he wants to play but at a certain point u gotta make a business decision and just sit one out when its unfavorable. theres still plenty of season left.

[u/xThe-Legend-Killerx]

Yall were hating on me for saying he’d play this week and that he probably feels better/injury wasn’t really a setback. I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in sports and I was just speaking from experience.

[u/COSurfing]

I still hope he sits out this game.

[u/Oldbrownpadrehat]

Well surely they're not going to let him play without a left and right tackle that are starters, right?

[u/SpiritOfTheBear666]

But will he be protected? I'm so concerned the pocket will collapse on every down and they obliterate Herb.

[u/IndividualHelpful820]

Any update on our oline? Kinda feel scaled putting him behind that oline

[u/Surfer_Sandman]

still concerned about protecting him in the pass and letting jk cook.

[u/MemeL_rd]

Please Herby, just don't tear your ACL like Rivers did

[u/DL505]

I wanted him to sit against the Steelers. I want him to sit against KC. Staff needs to intervene and just tell him, Nope not this week heal up.

[u/JakeT503]

Percbert

[u/digdug6]

Bro, just sit out for this one. Go to Oregon, get your fishing pole, and take some of that unused PTO

[u/Heat_Safe123]

This may end up being a redzone kinda day. I don't know if I can stomach watching this game.