Taylor

Heinicke

The Chargers had re-signed Heinicke this offseason, but choose to keep Trey Lance as the primary backup quarterback. The team also released CB Harrison Hand, S Tony Jefferson, LB Kana’i Mauga, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, WR Jalen Reagor, and OT David Sharpe. They also waived G Karsen Barnhart, CB Trikweze Bridges, WR Dalevon Campbell, DL TeRah Edwards, WR Luke Grimm, LB Kylan Guidry, DL Christopher Hinton, WR JaQuae Jackson, LB Emany Johnson, G Nash Jone, C Josh Kaltenberge, TE Stevo Klotz, LB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, OT Ryan Nelson, CB Myles Purchase, OLB Garmon Randolph, WR Brenden Rice, RB Raheim Sanders, CB Nehemiah Shelton, DL Nesta Jade Silvera, OT Corey Stewart, OG Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei, RB Kimani Vidal and TE Thomas Yassmin.

The 31-year-old Heinicke smartly re-ups with the Chargers as Justin Herbert’s backup. His days of competing for a starting job are well behind him, but teams have done worse than Heinicke to cover for a small injury here or there. The Chargers should be equally happy to retain a moderately capable game manager behind Herbert.

Herbert was clearly hampered by his Week 14 thigh contusion and ankle sprain, logging zero carries for the first time this season. Herbert managed the Buccaneers’ blitzed-powered pass rush effectively early on but the unit eventually got after him, sacking Herbert three times for 25 yards. The Chargers also lost LG Zion Johnson to a leg injury in-game. Herbert’s interception came on a long pass attempt intended for Quentin Johnston, who fell down after the ball was thrown. Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean secured the pick, ending Herbert’s 357-pass interception-free streak. He was one pass attempt away from tying Tom Brady for the fourth-best all-time streak. Taylor Heinicke replaced Herbert late in the fourth quarter. Herbert is a low-end QB1 against the similarly blitz-happy Broncos in Week 16.

Herbert appears to be a DNP for the second consecutive day, putting his Week 4 status firmly in doubt. There’s a chance he could still log a practice on Friday, but with the Chargers coming up on a Week 5 bye, two weeks away could be more than enough time for him to bounce back from his injury. If Herbert doesn’t play, Taylor Heinicke would get the nod for the divisional matchup against the Chiefs.

Herbert shed his walking boot ahead of Wednesday’s session but was not seen on the practice field. LA coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters earlier today Herbert is “progressing” through the injury. Herbert’s X-rays came up negative after he left the Chargers’ Week 3 game because of the ankle issue. Though the Chargers are set to square off with the Chiefs in a crucial AFC West matchup this week, it may be for the best if Herbert gets a chance to fully heal and misses Week 4. If he does, Taylor Heinicke would likely draw the start.

This is good news for Herbert, who limped off the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers and didn’t return to the field. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game that the plan was to pull Herbert if he saw him limping during the game. Herbert was also spotted in a boot after the game, but said he didn’t think he did further damage to his ankle by playing on it. We’ll see where things go from here as the Chargers prepare for a Week 4 matchup against the Chiefs. If Herbert is unable to go, journeyman Taylor Heinicke would likely draw the start after replacing Herbert on Sunday.

This comes from the Chargers’ team account. On the team’s first drive post-Herbert injury, Taylor Heinicke, who replaced him earlier, took the field. With less than a full quarter of football to go, there’s a chance Herbert is trending on the wrong side of returning in this one.

Herbert was questionable with an ankle injury heading into the day, but was playing well through the injury before being knocked from the game late in the third quarter. After making his way to the bench, Herbert was later spotted heading to the blue medical tent. We’ll see if he’s able to make his way back for this one. If not, it will be Taylor Heinicke the rest of the way.

Schefter noted that the team hasn’t made a final decision on his status yet and that won’t happen until pre-game warmups. Herbert suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Chargers Week 2 win over the Panthers. He logged a limited practice on Thursday but was listed as a DNP for the other two sessions of the week. Herbert has a chance to play but remains a true game-time call. Fantasy managers need to have a backup plan in place and it shouldn’t be another LA quarterback. Per Schefter, “The team has contingencies that involve both Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke.”

Herbert told reporters he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Chargers’ Week 2 win over the Panthers. Few players play through that injury without missing any time, so it looks like Herbert is going to be a true game-time call for Week 3. Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Herbert did not practice on Friday before being listed as questionable. He was a limited participant in Thursday’s session. Jim Harbaugh wouldn’t say who will draw the start if Herbert can’t play. The Chargers have Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick on the active roster. Either way, LA projects to lead the league in rush attempts versus a Steelers team that wants to play the same game.