CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's right leg will continue to be evaluated this week after it got rolled up on in Los Angeles' 26-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that X-rays were negative and that there will be more information on Wednesday when the Chargers begin preparations for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Chargers will practice at UNC Charlotte this week with consecutive games in the Eastern time zone.
The injury happened late in the third quarter. Herbert moved up in the pocket as it collapsed, but his lower right leg was rolled up on from behind by linebacker D.J. Johnson as he fumbled the ball at the Carolina 20-yard line.
Herbert walked gingerly to the sideline and pointed to his right ankle while talking to trainers on the bench. He briefly spent time in the medical tent, but did not miss any snaps after he got his ankle taped up. Herbert was 14 of 20 for 130 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. It was his lowest passing yardage total in a full game in five NFL seasons.
“We’ll know more the next couple of days, but was able to finish the game and keep moving around on it, so I’m looking forward to it,” Herbert said after the game.
Herbert missed two weeks during training camp because of an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot, but has been full-go in practice during the first two weeks of the regular season.
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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert runs against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
ATLANTA (AP) — Will Howard transferred to Ohio State to win a national championship, and he reached that goal by playing the best football of his career throughout the Buckeyes' four games in the College Football Playoff.
He was never better than in the first half and at the end of Ohio State's 34-23 victory over Notre Dame on Monday night.
Howard connected on his first 13 passes to set the record for consecutive completions in a CFP title game. And on third-and-11 after the Fighting Irish had pulled within eight points, he lofted a pass to Jeremiah Smith for a 56-yard gain that all but sealed the win.
“I give this guy a lot of credit right here,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said with Howard sitting to his left. “I think he ran the ball 16 times, and we knew it was going to be that way. It was the last game of the season, and we were going to (use all) our bullets. He really put the team on his back.”
Howard arrived in Atlanta with a hot hand, and the Irish did nothing to cool him off early. He spread the ball among six receivers, often throwing short and letting them pick up yards after the catch.
He tied the mark for consecutive completions late in the second quarter when he hit Carnell Tate for 20 yards on third-and-7, then broke it with a 15-yard pass to Smith two plays later.
The streak ended when Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts broke up a pass intended for TreVeyon Henderson near the goal line.
“Coming into the season, one thing Coach Day emphasized was taking completions,” Howard said. “Maybe I had to check it down or it wasn't perfectly drawn up. You just want to keep the ball moving and stay on schedule."
Alabama’s Mac Jones set the previous record with 12 completions in a row against Ohio State in the 2021 title game.
Howard finished 17 of 21 for 231 yards and was selected offensive MVP of the game. He threw touchdown passes of 8 yards to Smith and 6 yards to Quinshon Judkins in the first half.
Over his four playoff games, Howard completed 75.2% of his throws (82 of 109) for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions
“It can be a lot,” Howard said. “The lights are bright. It's a spectacle. The TV timeouts are long; everything's a show a little bit. You have to block that out and eliminate all the distractions. It's about whoever has the poise in the noise and overcomes adversity.”
Howard's passing against the Irish overshadowed the tough running he did when it was called for. He picked up first downs on five of his first six designed runs or scrambles, and late in the game his 8-yard burst gave the Buckeyes a big first down. He had a career-high 16 carries for a season-best 57 yards.
“It may not always be pretty and sometimes you have to pick it up with your legs,” he said.
Howard played his first four years at Kansas State, where he battled injuries and lost a quarterback competition in 2022 before an injury to the starter put him in position to lead the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship. He was second-team All-Big 12 in 2023, and Day saw enough in Howard to sign him out of the transfer portal.
The opportunity to play with some of the most talented offensive players in the country made Howard better and positioned him to potentially be a middle- or late-round pick in the NFL draft.
“I saw something in him, a football IQ intelligence,” Day said. “I saw him play on film at Kansas State and win championships and win big games and being able to make an impact with his feet but also throw with accuracy, and those are hard things to find.”
Howard said going to Ohio State was the best decision of his life.
“It's crazy to look back at all that's happened during my career — going from playing as a freshman at Kansas State and not really knowing what I'm doing and going into my junior year, not thinking I'd be playing and then winning a Big 12 championship. I'm just so unbelievably thankful that I got a chance to be a Buckeye, even if it was just one year.”
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Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard celebrates after a touchdown by running back Quinshon Judkins during second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Notre Dame Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes against Notre Dame during first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)