Justin Herbert's Journey to Recovery Before Week 1

Justin Herbert’s Recovery Journey

Justin Herbert has seemingly been through it all over the past month or so. First, he was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot on July 31, which required him to wear a walking boot and caused him to miss nearly three weeks of training camp.

Preseason Challenges

After Herbert returned and looked magical in practice, he faced an unexpected challenge when he got stuck in an elevator for nearly three hours the night before the Chargers' final preseason game. “It’s been a fun test,” Herbert commented. “Definitely learned a lot. Definitely go through some things you don’t want to have to experience.”

Focus on the Raiders

With all of that behind him, Herbert and the Chargers are now training with full momentum as they prepare for the Raiders ahead of Sunday’s Week 1 matchup. He expressed that he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when he injured his foot, saying it just started to get sore. “There wasn’t really one moment where I felt it happen.”

Staying Mentally Strong

Despite the physical setbacks, Herbert credited his quarterbacks coach Shane Day for helping him stay mentally aligned to be ready for the season opener. “It was tough to miss that, but I thought our coaches did a great job of not missing too much.” He emphasized the importance of building rapport with new teammates during the preseason and acknowledged the pressure of missing practice time.

A Unique Incident

Reflecting on the elevator incident, Herbert smiled when he recalled how he helped keep those around him calm during the event. “We just did a good job of keeping everyone calm…as long as everyone kept calm and took care of each other, we got out of there in one piece.”

Leadership Praise

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh praised Herbert’s leadership skills, noting, “He’s probably the best leader I’ve ever been around that plays the quarterback position.” Harbaugh reiterated his confidence in Herbert heading into the season. “There’s not a day where he comes where he’s late or disheveled or not ready to work... He leads from the front.”

Looking Ahead to 2024

As he embarks on Year 5 in the NFL, Herbert is enthusiastic about leading the Bolts into the new season, stating, “It’s a great opportunity. That’s what is so fun about football, to go out there and make something happen.” He showed confidence in his team’s abilities, emphasizing the need to learn from the past and prepare for success on Sunday.