Chargers-Jaguars Live Recap: Justin Herbert to start despite lingering rib injury

Everyone cross their fingers this doesn’t come back to bite the Bolts.

The Chargers are just about to kickoff against the Jaguars inside SoFi Stadium. After an immense amount of speculation this week regarding Justin Herbert’s availability just 10 days following a rib cartilage fracture he sustained against the Chiefs, the Chargers will have their starting quarterback against Jacksonville.

Per several of the prominent NFL insiders, Herbert is active and will start today. The painkilling injection he was expected to receive looks to have taken effect quite well after “mixed reviews” regarding a similar injection he got prior to Thursday’s practice.

The Jaguars are 1-1 following a 24-0 shutout against the Colts in week two. They come into this week with one of the best defenses against the run, which could cause issues for the Bolts and their ground game that hasn’t been able to establish itself through two weeks.

The Chargers will be without several starters on both sides of the ball, including wide receiver Keenan Allen, center Corey Linsley, cornerback J.C. Jackson. With Herbert putting his long-term health on the line for his team, his playmakers will need to step up and meet him halfway if the Chargers hope to escape their home stadium with a victory.

We’re doing another live game recap just like the Thursday Night Football opener against the Chiefs. We’ll update this post as each quarter ends so you all can stay up to date.

Let’s do this.

First Quarter

The Jaguars got the ball to begin the game after the Chargers won the coin toss and deferred. After gaining a first down, the Bolts defense held up on fourth down and forced a turnover on downs by Jacksonville at the Los Angeles 40-yard line. The Chargers couldn’t muster anything but a gain of four on a short pass to Austin Ekeler before punting it right back after a quick three-and-out.

The Jaguars got ahead of the chains on their next drive but were stopped short on third-and-one which led to the game’s second-straight three-and-out.

No points would grace the scoreboard during the first quarter as the clock hit zero with the Jaguars failing to convert a third down inside the Chargers 10-yard line. Through the first 15 minutes of regulation, the Chargers have zero first downs to the Jaguars’ seven. Jacksonville also boasts a 119 total yards of offense to the Chargers’ 22.

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter