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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Two white sneakers were visible as Justin Herbert walked onto the practice field Thursday evening, no walking boot in sight.
It was the first time the quarterback appeared on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice field without a walking boot since he was diagnosed with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot on July 31.
As coach Jim Harbaugh summed up succinctly after Thursday’s practice, “It felt like progress.”
Herbert did not practice Thursday outside of taking some walk-through snaps with the first-team offensive line, something he was also doing when he was in the boot. Still, it is an important step, largely because this development aligns with the timeline the Chargers announced when they revealed Herbert’s injury in a statement Aug. 1.
“Doctors have recommended approximately two weeks in a boot — followed by a graduated return to play protocol — with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the regular season,” the statement read.
Thursday marked exactly two weeks since the Chargers released the statement.
“On track,” Harbaugh said Thursday of Herbert’s progress.
When asked if the medical staff had indicated how close Herbert is to practicing, Harbaugh said, “No, haven’t received that.”
Justin Herbert is out of the walking boot today while working in the weight room with Ben Herbert during practice.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 15, 2024
Herbert spent the early part of practice working out in the weight room with executive director of player performance Ben Herbert. Tight end Hayden Hurst, who has not practiced since taking a big hit in the Chargers’ preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend, was working out alongside the two Herberts.
The quarterback then walked out onto the field just before 5 p.m., about an hour into practice. He watched team drills from the sideline, as he has on and off throughout the past two weeks. The absence of the walking boot was really the only difference.
Harbaugh said Herbert will not play Saturday in the second preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. Easton Stick will start for the Chargers for the second straight week.
On Saturday, after the 16-3 loss to the Seahawks, Harbaugh would not commit to a starting quarterback against the Rams. Stick had an underwhelming showing, completing just 5 of his 13 pass attempts for 31 yards and an interception.
“I will let practice determine that,” Harbaugh said when asked if Stick would start the next game.
Stick evidently showed enough in practice this week, fending off Luis Perez and Max Duggan in what is turning into an unexpectedly tight competition.
“I thought we saw some real improvements just in the timing of the passing game and the protection, as well,” Harbaugh said. “Easton in particular had a good week. Excited about it. Excited about the opportunity in the game Saturday.”
Perez took three reps with the first-team offensive line on Wednesday. He only had one with the first-team offensive line on Thursday, the last practice before the game.
Stick still had up-and-down moments this week. He looked better in the red zone, throwing four touchdowns over the past three days of team drills — one each to tight end Donald Parham Jr., tight end Will Dissly, receiver Quentin Johnston and receiver Brenden Rice.
Stick had a rough showing in a third-down team period during Wednesday’s padded practice, failing to convert in eight tries. He came back with an improved third-down performance on Thursday, converting four straight early on in practice. The red zone touchdown to Rice also came on a third down as the receiver created separation on a post route.
Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey and Stick were in a particularly good groove Thursday. Stick and McConkey connected on four completions, including an explosive over route off of play action.
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Saturday is a big moment for Stick. What Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have proven so far this camp is that complacency is not in their vocabulary. Hortiz said in February, not long after he was hired, that he would always look to “churn” the bottom of the roster. The Chargers now have five players on the 90-man who were not on the roster to start camp, including Perez, who signed with the team last week.
As Harbaugh said after the Perez signing, “Easton really wasn’t having any competition, enough competition at that position where he was at. And the only way to make somebody better is to get competition in there.”
Stick is competing against Perez and Duggan, yes. But perhaps more importantly, he is competing against the potential backup quarterbacks who might become available after rosters are trimmed to 53 players.
Hortiz and Harbaugh have displayed already that they will be aggressive on the open market.
Now is Stick’s time to prove to the new regime that he can back up Herbert.
And this is not some hypothetical situation. Herbert is dealing with a foot injury that certainly has a chance to linger. The backup might be called upon at some point.
“Who’s going to make the team? The best players,” Harbaugh said earlier this week. “How do we know who the best players are? They play the best.
“We should all be seeing that the same way.”
News and notes
• The Chargers signed interior defensive lineman Teair Tart on Thursday. They waived rookie safety Jalyn Phillips to open up a spot on the 90-man. Tart practiced Thursday evening and already flashed. He beat right guard Trey Pipkins on a third-down pass-rush snap, showing impressive short-area quickness and strong hands.
Harbaugh said the Chargers first identified Tart as a potential fit during the offseason when evaluating free agents. He added that the team had Tart “ranked pretty darn high” as part of their free agency valuation. After Tart was cut by the Dolphins this week, Hortiz and Harbaugh pounced.
“He had a good day out there today, first time out there,” Harbaugh said. “Made a nice quick move.”
we’ve signed DL teair tart
→ https://t.co/NXGWHJCoi7 pic.twitter.com/gkYqfnkQda
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 15, 2024
• Similar to last week, Harbaugh named a few players on each side of the ball who will not play in Saturday’s preseason game. On offense, it will be Herbert and running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. On defense, edge rusher Khalil Mack, edge rusher Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James will sit.
Harbaugh added that McConkey and receiver Joshua Palmer should see snaps. Neither played in the preseason opener.
• Chargers who did not practice Thursday: Herbert, James, Bosa, Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman, linebacker Nick Niemann, linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, edge rusher Ty Shelby, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, offensive lineman Jordan McFadden, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, edge rusher Chris Rumph II and edge rusher Andrew Farmer II.
• Mack participated in individual drills but left to work out in the weight room when team drills started.
• Receiver/returner Derius Davis was back in team drills. He missed the preseason opener, which offered the first live reps of the new kickoff for the Chargers.
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(Photo of Stick: Harry How / Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5704663/2024/08/16/chargers-training-camp-justin-herbert-easton-stick/