Two years ago, the Los Angeles Chargers faced an early season game against the Chiefs with a quarterback dealing with cracked ribs, and Tyrod Taylor decided to get a pain-killing injection to try and play. Instead, the Chargers team doctor punctured Taylor’s lung with the injection, forcing him to go to the hospital and inadvertently beginning the Justin Herbert era in L.A.
Taylor is currently suing the Chargers doctor for this incident, and now the Chargers face an almost identical situation heading into Week 3 with Herbert, who has a rib cartilage injury and is mulling over the same pain-killing injection to try and play against the Jaguars. Herbert is reportedly pushing to play, while the Chargers medical staff is “encouraging him” to take the longview and sit out a week, but it will be a game-time decision — and it seems the Chargers would take extra precautions to avoid a similar disastrous situation as what happened to Taylor by using ultrasound to guide the injection.
If Justin Herbert chooses to take a pain injection today, it will be done with the assistance of an ultra sound imaging monitor to guide the administering doctor to appropriate site.
Sources say Herbert received an injection to practice on a (limited) basis with mixed results.— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 25, 2022
The Chargers medical team have “encouraged” Herbert to take the “long view” in weighing his decision.
The cartilage injury can last several weeks or several months. Rib protector can’t help with rotation when Herbert twists and throws.
And he plays football.— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) September 25, 2022
Not surprisingly, Justin Herbert is making a push to play through the pain. He’s a very competitive dude and doesn’t want to miss a game. He threw some yesterday and felt better but not all the way there. The #Chargers will see how he feels later today. https://t.co/dF36Wk9SV7
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 25, 2022
First off, there’s a good question as to why using ultrasound to guide the injection wasn’t standard operating procedure in the first place with Taylor — and probably only helps his case in his lawsuit. Second, even with added precautions, many fans can’t get past what happened to Taylor and would like Herbert to reconsider his push to play given the worst case scenario is a punctured lung, particularly in a Week 3 game with the Jaguars.
JUSTIN DONT GET THE INJECTION JUSTINNN ITS THE SAME DOCTOR WHO STABBED TYROD IN THE LUNGS JUSTIIIIINNNNN JUST SIT OUT ITS WEEK 3 JUSTIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN pic.twitter.com/8P7V1HR9qT
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 25, 2022
DONT DO IT JUSTIN HERBERT pic.twitter.com/sRlK80RF6G
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) September 25, 2022
A note that the last time a Chargers QB (Tyrod Taylor) was in a similar situation the injection punctured his lung. https://t.co/UidclIapYz
— Richard🇬🇾Johnson (human) (@RJ_cfb) September 25, 2022
I’d want this administered by someone other than the Chargers team doctor if I’m getting this shot, but maybe thats just me. https://t.co/8Z8RKpTaby
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) September 25, 2022
Tyrod Taylor wondering when they got an ultrasound imaging monitor… https://t.co/sU4GEf9VGg
— Steve 🦈 (@no_treefiddy) September 25, 2022
The Chargers team doctor who stabbed Tyrod Taylor in the lungs while trying to give him an injection getting ready to give Justin Herbert an injection in the vicinity of his lungs https://t.co/1oPJo9DA8Z pic.twitter.com/wREYI8zjPQ
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 25, 2022
Make sure he gets a real doctor to do the injection, or at least a steady hand. https://t.co/VvtKwvU5j9
— B.Scott from Hiram Clarke (@brandonkscott) September 25, 2022
Tyrod Taylor may have to give young Justin some sage advice here. https://t.co/wl8mKh9j3j
— Roy Bellamy (@roybelly) September 25, 2022
the chargers giving justin his two options https://t.co/hnuhLHIIVF pic.twitter.com/SYikFoWdpj
— Joe Ali (@JoeAli) September 25, 2022
Tyrod Taylor: pic.twitter.com/qCxNOwLrL8
— 🦅 Iggles Jack 🦅 (@igglesJack) September 25, 2022
Tyrod Taylor hearing the same doctor that pierced his lung and ruined his career is prepared to give an injection to Justin Herbert.. pic.twitter.com/nFY4r7mPVV
— Nautical Demon (@nauticaldemon) September 25, 2022
