EL SEGUNDO, Calif — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is therapeutic on the excellent time heading into Sunday’s wild-card sport towards the New England Patriots.
Herbert, who suffered a fractured left hand in Week 13, mentioned sitting out of final week’s sport towards Denver for precautionary causes proved helpful.
“I might say undoubtedly not taking hits on it final week was in all probability fairly useful,” Herbert mentioned. “It restricted form of the swelling and simply getting again to creating positive that you’ve got full power, having the ability to maintain onto a soccer.”
One of many greatest points for Herbert for the reason that damage has been taking snaps beneath middle and gripping the soccer together with his left hand. Whereas injured, he usually prevented these through the week, opting to take a couple of on Saturdays and on sport days. However for the primary time for the reason that damage, Herbert took under-center snaps Wednesday, the earliest in a sport week he has accomplished that for the reason that fracture.
“I’d say that I used to be capable of do most the whole lot on the market,” Herbert mentioned of Wednesday’s follow. “It is simply ensuring I can grip on the ball and have two fingers on it within the pocket. … So I believe that is been good.”
It was simply over a 12 months in the past that Herbert and the Chargers clinched a playoff spot on the street with a 40-7 beatdown of New England — solely the Patriots’ second residence loss by 30-plus factors this century. Herbert threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and rookie vast receiver Ladd McConkey had eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
That Patriots group, which was 4-13, bears little resemblance to this season’s model, which has had one of many league’s most shocking turnarounds beneath first-year coach Mike Vrabel. New England is 14-3 this season, earned the AFC’s No. 2 seed and enters the postseason driving a three-game win streak.
For that cause, Herbert mentioned final season’s sport movie is not very useful.
“They are not the identical group they had been final 12 months,” Herbert mentioned. “… You activate the tape and also you see a very totally different group.”
The Chargers may very well be heading into this sport with out considered one of their most vital gamers. Working again Omarion Hampton, nursing an ankle damage, sat out follow Wednesday and did not follow all of final week.
“He is doing the whole lot and something he can to get again,” coach Jim Harbaugh mentioned.
