Monday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was overjoyed to see quarterback Justin Herbert return to the practice field. Going as far as to say he heard angels sing and that he looked great with a capital G.
This puts Herbert on schedule for the season opener. He suffered a plantar fascia injury on July 31. The injury carries with it a six-week recovery. The season opener for the Chargers against the Raiders is September 8 which means Herbert would have less than six weeks to be ready.
Despite this timeline, the Chargers have said since the start that they expect Herbert to be ready for the season opener.
Herbert was wearing a walking boot for two weeks, and his return this week has him on schedule for the Chargers’ hopeful timeline. So, Harbaugh’s excitement is understandable.
The Chargers hopes lie in the hands of Herbert. They also, however, lie in the feet of Herbert, and even with his return to practice, the question of whether his mobility will be effected remains.
Previous such injuries have had quarterbacks miss large portions of seasons. Six weeks is pretty common. And you know if they could have returned — even with limited mobility — they would have.
So, it’s natural to wonder, even if Herbert takes the field as the starter when the Chargers welcome the Raiders on September 8, if he is going to be the Justin Herbert of record. A big-armed quarterback who can also escape the pocket and create plays using his legs. Or if, at very least, the playbook will be limited and the game plan will be tailored in order to keep him from having to run around as much. Not to mention it will limit his ability to create a play when one breaks down.
