Will Justin Herbert play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Officially, the Los Angeles Chargers listed the talent-soaked third-year quarterback on Friday as questionable, as he deals with fractured rib cartilage suffered late in a loss a week ago Thursday night, in Kansas City.
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Herbert did practise Wednesday and Thursday of this week, although both times he was limited, before he sat out Friday’s practice entirely.
That latter news rocked the betting line, as L.A. dropped quickly Friday from a seven- to a three-point favourite.
Does that mean the 24-year-old suffered a setback Thursday? At that day’s practice he was seen by reporters taking part in early-practice throwing warmups, per usual.
Or was his Friday practice absence just a sign the Chargers want to give Herbert as much rest as possible before facing the Jaguars’ pressure defence Sunday (4:05 p.m. EDT, TSN 4)?
“It’s day-to-day. Just waiting to see how he feels,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said. “(We’ll) see how it goes.”
On Friday Herbert said his ribs “feel good,” that “there have definitely been improvements,” and that “the most important thing is just to be prepared for Sunday, and do your best —whatever that looks like.”
Chase Daniel would quarterback the Chargers if Herbert cannot.
Two Chargers offensive linemen injured against the Chiefs are uncertain to play. Right tackle Trey Pipkins (foot) is questionable, while centre Corey Linsley (knee) is doubtful. Wideout Keenan Allen (hamstring) and tight end Donald Parham Jr. (hamstring) are both questionable.
HYDE DONE FOR SEASON
Buffalo safety Micah Hyde will miss the rest of the 2022 season with a neck injury, his agent announced Saturday morning on social media.
Jack Bechta tweeted:
“Unfortunately client Micah Hyde will be put on IR today due to his recent neck injury. Fortunately, we expect a healthy return for #23 in 2023.”
ESPN said Hyde indeed will be placed on season-ending IR.
The 31-year-old suffered what NFL Network describes as a herniated disc Monday during Buffalo’s 41-7 slaughter of Tennessee.
LEWAN DONE, TOO
Bad news for the Titans. Veteran left tackle Taylor Lewan is done for the season, after suffering a serious right knee injury Monday in Buffalo. He announced the news Saturday.
EXTRA POINTS
Tampa Bay, as expected, elevated freshly signed WR Cole Beasley from the practice squad … The Rams placed slow-recovering WR Van Jefferson (knee) on IR … Denver head coach Nathaniel Hackett hired former Baltimore special-teams coach Jerry Rosburg as senior assistant, to advise Hackett from the booth on in-game decisions, per multiple reports. Yikes — two games in.
FIVE BIG QUESTIONS
THE BIG NUMBER
739
Number of yards thrown by Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, to lead all NFL passers through two games. Last year it took him until 12:17 was left in the fourth quarter of his fourth start to amass that many pass yards, and as a rookie in 2020 until 9:43 was left in the third quarter of his fifth start.
FUNKY FACTOID
Since opening the 2020 season 11-0, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offence has shriveled. Especially early. In 28 games since then — under QBs Ben Roethlisberger (24), Mason Rudolph (1) and Mitchell Trubisky (3) — the Steelers offence in the first half has been shut out five times (18%), failed to score as many as seven points 12 times (43%), failed to score more than seven points 17 times (61%) and failed to score more than 10 points 23 times (82%).
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We’ve now won 104 times against them. I think everybody in Green Bay is counting, for sure.”
— Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB, on beating the Bears — again.
That was more like it.
I went 10-6 (.625) in Week 2 in picking NFL winners, straight up — not against the spread.
But I’ve got to explain something. As a few of you kindly pointed out, I listed Arizona to beat the Las Vegas Raiders — which they did, in overtime, miraculously — even though my explanation literally said “Raiders all the way.”
Why the discrepancy? Because I screwed up. Meant to write Las Vegas, not Arizona. My brain took a vacation. Sorry for the confusion, folks.
Before kickoff I decided it would be unfair to take the W if Vegas won, and to just live with the Arizona pick. How’d I know the Cards would win the &%*(# thing? So I sheepishly get the W.
But, hey, fate still owes me. After two weeks the team I picked has lost six of seven games that have come down to a last-second field-goal attempt.
To Week 3:
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, Thursday
KRYK PICK: Cleveland
Up to 2-1 on Thursdays.
New Orleans at Carolina, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
KRYK PICK: New Orleans
Jameis Winston — even if he does have four slightly fractured vertebrae in his back — probably won’t have to play well for the Saints and their mean defence to keep the Panthers winless.
Houston at Chicago, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
KRYK PICK: Chicago
Lovie Smith returns to Chicago, with the Texans, whose defence has been stout in an 0-1-1 start. But take the home team in a slugfest, in overcast, mild but breezy weather.
Kansas City at Indianapolis, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
(CTV west of Manitoba; TSN 4; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Indianapolis
I believe an NFL bettor must give added weight in Weeks 3-4 to the desperation factor. Indy (0-1-1) is WAY more desperate than K.C. (2-0), and it’s the Colts’ home opener to boot.
Buffalo at Miami, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
(CTV Ontario; CTV2 Atlantic; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Buffalo
No team has looked remotely as good as the Bills. Even if few teams have looked as offensively powerful as the Dolphins, there are zero reasons thus far to not pick Buffalo every week.
Detroit at Minnesota, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
(CTV Winnipeg; CTV2 Ottawa; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Minnesota
On paper, might be a coin-flip game. Jared Goff is one of the league’s hottest QBs, statistically, since late ’21. But Detroit’s defence can be gashed by Cousins and Cook, and likely will.
Baltimore at New England, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
(CTV Montreal, Atlantic; CTV2 Toronto, BC, Alberta, London/Windsor; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Baltimore
Pats don’t have a passing attack to fully exploit the Ravens’ young, vulnerable secondary. And have you seen how bad Belichick’s defences have been vs. dual-threat QBs lately?
Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
KRYK PICK: Cincinnati
This is one of those times when you just don’t mull much of anything other than this: You really think the Bengals are gonna fall to 0-3 by losing to the Jets? Do you? Seriously?
Las Vegas at Tennessee, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
KRYK PICK: Las Vegas
Titans (0-2) are desperate. Raiders (0-2) might be even more so, and angrier after blowing a sure win vs. Arizona. Carr and Adams surely saw what Allen & Diggs just did to this defence.
Philadelphia at Washington, Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
KRYK PICK: Philadelphia
I’m sold on the Eagles. And on QB Jalen Hurts. But I reserve the right to amend both proclamations. Carson Wentz is just far too inconsistent, maybe because his protection is so awful.
(TSN 4; via CBS)
KRYK PICK: Los Angeles
Jags lead the AFC South (1-1) as the only team in the division with a win. Even if Chargers QB Justin Herbert is limited, or can’t play with broken rib cartilage, I’m taking L.A., period.
KRYK PICK: Los Angeles
Matthew Stafford leads the NFL again so far with five picks. Rams’ defence has under-achieved. But Kyler Murray in first halves so far has a mere 141 yards passing, zero TDs, one pick.
(CTV BC, Alberta; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Seattle
Really, neither team’s offence has performed anywhere near well enough to be confident it will win this. Therefore, coin flip. Therefore, take the home side over the weary travellers.
(CTV nationally except BC, Alberta, Atlantic; CTV2 Atlantic; via FOX)
KRYK PICK: Tampa Bay
Forecast: 30 C, mostly clear. First game in NFL history featuring players who, en masse, have won six Super Bowl MVP awards: Tom Brady (five), Aaron Rodgers (one). Enjoy.
(CTV2; TSN; via NBC)
KRYK PICK: San Francisco
The 49ers defence is for real. So are Russell Wilson’s and Denver’s offensive troubles so far, in the hiccupping new era of head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Jimmy G back in the saddle.
(TSN; TSN 3 MNF w/ Peyton & Eli; via ESPN)
KRYK PICK: Dallas
The Cowboys defence deserves more credit. Expect it to make Daniel Jones’ evening miserable. Another low-scoring game for both teams, the difference being Dallas’ better defence.
BYES THIS WEEK: None.
SEASON RECORD: 16-15-1 (.516) through Week 2.
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