Herbert exits loss after aggravating ankle injury

PITTSBURGH — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert aggravated his high right ankle sprain in Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and left the stadium in a walking boot.

Herbert was sacked by outside linebacker Elandon Roberts and got up with a significant limp. Herbert handed the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins on the next play but then limped off to the sideline and had his ankle looked at by trainers.

“Yeah, my responsibility as a quarterback is to give everything that I can to this team and my teammates, and I felt like I did that,” Herbert said. “I pushed myself and I couldn’t go anymore, and I had a tough time walking on it, moving on it, pushing off of it and I knew that Taylor [Heinicke] gave us a better shot to win.”

Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain last Sunday in the Chargers’ win over the Panthers and practiced only once ahead of the Steelers game. He said his ankle had been “getting sore” throughout the game, but after the sack, the pain intensified.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said he considered not playing Herbert at all Sunday but felt comfortable with Herbert’s progress after watching him practice Saturday.

“I’ve been in that position before, warriors, you give them the shot,” Harbaugh said.

When Herbert limped to the sideline, Harbaugh said that he immediately decided that Herbert wouldn’t go back into the game even if he asked.

“Justin’s the kind of guy you got to pull back because you’re never going to have to talk him into anything,” Harbaugh said, “but he does have to be pulled back.

Herbert said he’s hopeful that he will play against the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday. Heinicke, whom the Chargers traded for just over three weeks ago, finished the game with 24 yards passing, completing both attempts. He also was sacked three times.

It was an injury-laden day for the Chargers’ stars. Outside linebacker Joey Bosa left the game in the first quarter with a hip injury after playing only two snaps. A back injury limited Bosa to just 14 snaps in last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers.

Left tackle Rashawn Slater, meanwhile, suffered a pectoral injury and spent most of the second half on the sideline. Right tackle Joe Alt suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and walked with a significant limp after the game.