Justin Herbert Avoids Finger Fracture, Good to Go

Justin Herbert tried to stiff-arm Logan Hall with 14:12 left in Sunday’s loss to Houston and came away with an injured middle finger on his non-throwing hand. Two plays later he threw a touchdown pass anyway. On Monday the imaging came back clean. Jim Harbaugh said the tests showed no fracture, “so he should be good to go.”

That is the one piece of good news in a lost season. The Chargers are 0-8 after a 44-22 beating by the Texans, the worst start in franchise history, and the losing streak is up to 11 games dating back to last season. They head to Baltimore for Monday night next week. Herbert staying upright is the only way that game is competitive.

Eight Sacks and Counting

The finger is not the real problem. Houston sacked Herbert eight times on Sunday, and he has been sacked 31 times in eight games. He finished 13 of 23 for 193 yards, and the late 58-yard touchdown to Quentin Johnston was the Chargers’ first touchdown since an Oct. 11 loss to Denver. He also played without Ladd McConkey, who had back spasms in warmups.

Herbert has played through worse. He broke a bone in the back of his left hand in Week 13 last season, played through it and had it surgically repaired. He said after Sunday’s game that he expects to play through this one too. If he could not, DJ Uiagalelei, who threw a touchdown in relief, would be the next man up until Trey Lance returns from injured reserve.

A Real Shot in Baltimore

Monday’s trip to M&T Bank Stadium looks like the best chance yet for a first win. The Ravens are 4-5 and turning to Jacoby Brissett, who was acquired from Arizona last week and is expected to start for them, coach Jesse Minter said.

The Chargers also seem set on keeping the roster together through Tuesday’s deadline, so this is still a team trying to win games this year. That puts even more on the line to give Herbert a clean pocket against a Ravens team breaking in a new quarterback.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Ravens team sacks against the Chargers. Herbert has been sacked 31 times in eight games and eight times on Sunday alone, and nothing about this line has changed. If McConkey is still out with his back by Saturday, add a lean on Quentin Johnston targets, since Herbert’s best throw on Sunday went his way.