Quarterback Justin Herbert missed practice Wednesday after he suffered left leg and ankle injuries in the Chargers’ loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Although Herbert left the game for one play after taking a hard hit on the left thigh during a tackle late in the second quarter, it was actually a left ankle injury suffered in the first quarter that kept him off the practice field Wednesday, he said.
Herbert first hurt the ankle on a seven-yard scramble on third-and-16 on the Chargers’ opening drive. He was seen grimacing as he jogged toward the sideline. Trainers re-taped the ankle both inside and outside of his cleat and he continued to play.
“It was difficult to play with,” Herbert said Wednesday with the Chargers (8-5) preparing to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. “It was one of those things that we talked about where we limited some of the runs.”
Herbert threw for 213 yards and one touchdown, completing 21 of 30 passes against the Chiefs. He had four rush attempts for 12 yards.
The 26-year-old already has played through an ankle injury this season, fighting through a severe right high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2. He said Wednesday he doesn’t feel the latest injury is as painful as the earlier one, but he and the medical staff took a conservative approach for practice to begin the week.
“If I felt like I could have practiced 100% to make sure that everyone’s getting a full speed rep, I definitely would have. I didn’t think I was able to do that,” Herbert said. “The trainers didn’t think I was able to do that today.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said before practice Wednesday he would like Herbert to rest for at least one day but wasn’t sure if the quarterback would overrule the coach’s decision.
“I know this: he will be doing anything and everything in his power to play on Sunday,” Harbaugh said. “I’ve seen it now over and over. Certainly a lesser man wouldn’t be doing the things he does.”
