The Los Angeles Chargers faced another major setback in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans. Already missing right guard Mekhi Becton due to a knee injury, the team then saw star left tackle Joe Alt go down again. And remember, Alt had just returned from an ankle injury. Tough timing, right? 

To make matters worse, right tackle Bobby Hart also exited early with groin and ankle issues. That’s a lot of damage for one offensive line. As such, after the game, reporters immediately pressed Chargers’ head coach Jim Harbaugh about how he plans to handle yet another wave of injuries in the OL. 

“Just dig deep. Keep digging deep. Guys step up, and that’s what you do,” Jim Harbaugh stated. “Sometimes the team finds itself in a situation where it’s got back against the wall. That’s when you find out who you really are, and felt that that’s what our guys did today.” 

That’s exactly what happened in this gritty 20-27 win for the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh adjusted the OL on the fly. Trey Pipkins III filled in for Bobby Hart at right tackle. Jamaree Salyer then took over for Alt at left tackle. They weren’t perfect, but they held on. 

Despite protection issues, the Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert walked onto the field leading the NFL in passing yards (2,140). But reporters had another question for Jim Harbaugh: Should Herbert’s increased running worry the Chargers? Harbaugh shut down that thought immediately.

“Justin Herbert, by now, I think there’s no other way that he can impress,” Jim Harbaugh simply raved. “But then every time I think that, he finds a way to find another rung on the ladder. He’s that guy, that competitor.”

Hard to argue with that after Sunday’s performance. Justin Herbert threw for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 57 yards too. He also showed power on 3 quarterback-sneak conversions on third-and-1 in the 4th quarter – including one that set up his own 1-yard rushing touchdown.

Jim Harbaugh also lauded the “physical nature” of Justin Herbert’s tough runs. When your franchise quarterback is 6-foot-6, 236 pounds, and isn’t afraid to push through piles, it changes the tone of the offense. So, did Herbert basically drag the Chargers across the finish line on Sunday? It sure felt like it on a day when the OL suffered through injuries. 

Jim Harbaugh talks about Joe Alt’s injury

During the 2nd quarter of the Chargers vs Titans game, Titans DT Sebastian Joseph-Day crashed into Joe Alt’s right leg. Alt immediately grabbed his lower leg and stayed down before the cart came out and took him out of the field. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that the injury appears to be a recurrence of his previous ankle issue. Yes, the same one that already cost Alt three games earlier this season. 

At the post-game conference, Jim Harbaugh then revealed that he did not have any updates on Joe Alt’s injury yet. But his tone said plenty. 

“Losing Joe again is tough,” Jim Harbaugh admitted.  “He’s one of those rare players who brings confidence to everyone around him. You don’t replace a guy like that easily.”

The Chargers escaped Nashville with a win. But can Justin Herbert keep carrying the load while the OL heals? While Joe Alt left the stadium on crutches, the latest update suggests that he will undergo an MRI soon. In case surgery becomes necessary, Alt could miss at least a month. With tough games coming up against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the timing could not be worse for the Chargers.

Justin Herbert continues to produce, but the lack of stable pass protection means more forced throws and more turnovers. Jim Harbaugh may have to put Joe Alt on IR, or he could also explore a trade for more OL help before the deadline. If Los Angeles wants to stay in the playoff hunt, the answers need to come soon – and they need to be good.