Chargers News: Mounting Injuries To LA Offense Sinking Season

The back-ups need to step up amidst injuries.

Your Los Angeles Chargers are struggling.

With a 2-4 record, the team has lost back-to-back games, only scoring 17 points in each contest.

Even during the wins, the team seems to be holding onto first-half leads and hoping that their opponents don't catch up, so what is wrong with the offense?

Injuries.

Star center Corey Linsley, Rashawn Slater, and Justin Herbert have all been affected by injuries either missing games or being hampered by playing through injuries.

Mike Williams also tore his ACL and is done for the year so the Chargers offense has been greatly affected by the injury bug.

"Over the past three games, with Linsley out, the Chargers have allowed the highest pressure rate of any offense in the league on a per dropback basis — 45.9 percent, according to TruMedia. Linsley signed with the Chargers in free agency in 2021. Since then, Herbert has been pressured on 30.5 percent of his 1,331 dropbacks with Linsley on the field, according to TruMedia. With Linsley off the field, Herbert has been pressured on 38.5 percent of his 408 dropbacks."

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via Daniel Popper of The Athletic

The affected line is what also got Herbert the finger fracture that he suffered in Week 4.

"Herbert suffered the injury in the second half against the Raiders in Week 4. He has not looked like the same quarterback since. The injury is, at times, affecting how he handles the ball while receiving shotgun snaps. On Sunday, the splint on the finger was dislodged after Herbert took a hit in the first quarter. He handed the ball off awkwardly with his right hand on a few under-center snaps. Additionally, Herbert is noticeably cognizant of how he is falling to the ground to try and protect the finger from further damage."

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via Daniel Popper of The Athletic

Playing through the injury still gives the team their best shot at winning games since Herbert is a difference-maker and one of the top quarterbacks in the league but the finger is holding him back.

If the Chargers want to improve, they need to start getting healthier.

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