As if Los Angeles Chargers fans needed another reason to tune out, well, now they have one.
The franchise announced on Tuesday that quarterback Justin Herbert will miss the rest of this season, opting to have surgery on a broken right index finger, his throwing hand (Chargers’ Justin Herbert having season-ending finger surgery – ESPN).
Herbert’s team, coached for now by Brandon Staley, is 5-8 on the season through 13 games, the most recent loss coming at home to Denver, 24-7, on Sunday. Herbert was injured after completing a pass to tight end Donald Parham Jr. in the second quarter.
Herbert, drafted four years ago out of Oregon, has thrown for 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Easton Stick will replace Herbert as the starter on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Max Duggan, the rookie from TCU, will be the backup.
“It’s tough,” receiver Keenan Allen said. “When we are practice, we’re pretty much with [Herbert] the whole time, so having Stick in there, we know Stick can make those plays. We know he’s got the knowledge for the game. He’s been around for a long time. So the confidence was still high in Stick, but obviously, Herbo is our guy.”
