Discouraging Update on Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert

It appears there's a very real possibility the Los Angeles Chargers could be without their budding superstar quarterback in Week 3. According to ESPN's Christ Mortensen, the Chargers medical staff is discouraging quarterback Justin Herbert from playing in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Chargers medical team have “encouraged” Herbert to take the “long view” in weighing his decision.
The cartilage injury can last several weeks or several months. Rib protector can’t help with rotation when Herbert twists and throws.
And he plays football.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 25, 2022

Herbert sustained a rib injury on a hard hit in the fourth quarter of his team's Week 2 Thursday Night Football loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He completed the game after briefly coming off the field, but his availability for Week 3 now appears in serious doubt despite the 10 days off. The Chargers opened as 7-point favorites over the Jags, but the line has fallen all the way down to 3 in the days since over concerns regarding Herbert's health.

Herbert has been one of the league's most exciting young players since joining the Chargers as the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2021 on the back of a remarkable 5014 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns, and his promise is a big reason the Chargers were pegged as a Super Bowl Favorite this year. Should he take the long view as his medical staff suggests, the Chargers will likely rely on backup quarterback Chase Daniel in the interim. Following Sunday's matchup against the Jaguars, the Chargers play the Houston Texans in Week 4 and the Cleveland Browns in Week 5.