Chargers QB Justin Herbert out of walking boot and ‘progressing’

EL SEGUNDO — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was last seen walking out of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday with a protective boot on his left leg. Two days later, the boot was gone but the concern over a painful high ankle sprain that forced him to leave the Chargers’ loss to the Steelers lingered.

Herbert was held out of practice Wednesday, instead doing limited throwing reps three days before the Chargers take on the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The move to limit his participation in practice was more cautionary than worrisome after an MRI and X-rays showed no further damage to the ankle.

The good test results were encouraging for both the player and head coach Jim Harbaugh, who said the ankle was “progressing.” At this point, Herbert could see action when the Chiefs visit SoFi Stadium. Or put it another way, Herbert isn’t planning on taking the day off.

“I feel better than I did last Wednesday and as long as we keep moving forward and we keep getting it (ankle) better and not taking steps back, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Herbert said.

Herbert was questionable heading into last week’s game after suffering the ankle sprain against the Carolina Panthers. He played two-and-a-half quarters, completing 12 of 18 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown in Sunday’s 20-10 loss before exiting. He said the ankle was “really painful” and it got to the point where he couldn’t protect himself after taking a sack that appeared to further aggravate the injury.

He limped to the medical tent and didn’t return to the field. Backup Taylor Heinicke finished the game.

“(The plan) was just go out there and play as much as you could,” the 26-year-old quarterback said. “We kind of talked about it before the game and it was determined to see how many plays I could give. Obviously, I wanted to play the entire game.”

Herbert said he is spending much of this week in the weight room and training room, and throwing limited reps, to get him ready for Sunday. With a bye week coming up, some have suggested that Herbert sit this one out and spend the time getting his ankle 100%.

“I will do everything I can to play,” he said. “…it’s one of those things where you take as many reps as you can get and see where I am.”

Herbert wasn’t the only Chargers player who did not practice Wednesday.

Linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) and tackles Joe Alt (MCL) and Rashawn Slater (pec) also were absent Wednesday. If Alt and Slater can’t go, it would leave significant holes in the Chargers’  offensive line as they face the Chiefs.

“Take it one day at a time and that’s exactly the way we are going to go about making those determinations,” Harbaugh said of how he plans to fill those spots.

Harbaugh declined to comment on the severity of Alt’s injury that was reported to be a MCL strain that forced the rookie to leave the Chargers’ game Sunday.

“I don’t have a comment or degree or timing,” Harbaugh said of Alt’s injury or his availability for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.

Alt, whom the Chargers selected with the fifth overall pick in April, had been sensational this season, not allowing a single pressure attack or sack to Herbert. In Week 2, Alt was ranked the top offensive tackle, according to PFF with an 87.2 rating.

Junior Colson (hamstring), Otito Ogbonnia (neck) and Trey Pipkins III (foot) also sat out Wednesday’s practice.

DISAPPOINTING OUTCOME

Harbaugh said he was truly disappointed when the NFL suspended safety Derwin James Jr. for repeated violations of safety rules. The three-time All-Pro will miss Sunday’s game against the Chiefs after it was ruled Monday that he earned an unnecessary roughness penalty for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.

“You know how I feel about Derwin. He is a shining star in every way – as a teammate, as a captain, on this team, as a two-time Walter Peyton Man of the Year and for everything he has done for the Chargers and the game. He is amazing. He is a shining star, a shining example,” Harbaugh said.

“He does not want to hurt anybody, another player. He just wants it to be a competition. That’s always on his mind. He wants to do it exactly the way the NFL wants to have people tackle in this game.”

Harbaugh said the resulting punishment for James’ hit on Freiermuth was unexpected because the player, who is one of the league’s top defensive backs, has made a point to reach out to referees during the offseason “to gain a better grasp of how they want it done. And the evidence is right there on the tape.”

Harbaugh said officials, after viewing game film, determined that when James Jr. stiff-armed Freiermuth, it caused him to come into contact with the opponent’s helmet.

“We looked at 20 some tackles and he is going out of his way, literally going out of his way, and giving up yards so he cannot injure another player or hit heads. So, yeah, I’m disappointed,” the Chargers head coach said.

This was not James’ first such penalty. The safety has drawn five unnecessary roughness penalties over his past 18 games, dating to last season.

James garnered a team-high 125 tackles last season and was one of eight NFL defensive backs to total a sack, an interception, four tackles for loss and 90 tackles.