Justin Herbert Sep 15, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is looked at by team trainers after being hit by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna (51) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

If Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert plays today, it might be because of an ultrasound-guided painkilling injection, which sounds pretty wild. It also sounds a lot like what went wrong for former Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor a few years back.

Taylor, who was the Chargers’ starting quarterback before Herbert, had his lung punctured by a team doctor right before a 2020 game when he was attempting to give Tyrod a painkilling injection. Taylor did not file a grievance against the team but it was a severe blow to their reputation over such things.

Herbert is coming into this Sunday’s game with some severely injured ribs and there’s a concern he’ll need a painkilling injection as well. However, with the memory of the Taylor incident still fresh, if the team has to give him something, it will be an ultrasound-guided injection that allows the team’s medical staff to administer the painkiller in a way that avoids the lungs or any other vital organs, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Per Mort, Herbert did practice once this week after getting a painkilling injection and the results were mixed. It remains unclear whether or not he will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Whether he plays or not, the news of a Chargers team doctor giving a quarterback an injection has a lot of NFL folks worried for Herbert’s safety.

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.