Chargers' Quarterback Justin Herbert's Performance Affected by Finger Injury

Herbert's struggles intensified over two games since Week 4 injury, leading to a significant downturn in Chargers' offensive performance.

Justin Herbert, Chargers' Quarterback, fractured his middle finger on his left hand during the Week 4 game against Las Vegas. Despite having played with a glove on his right hand to protect the injury, Herbert's performance has significantly declined over the past two games.
In the nine quarters since sustaining the injury, Herbert's completion rate dropped to 58.6% with a passer rating of 79.5, both figures are noticeably lower than his career averages.
Since the injury, the Chargers' offensive performance has suffered, highlighted by a lack of consistency in scoring. The team fell from ranking 8th in the NFL in points per play after three games to the 18th position in the three games that followed the injury.
Herbert's performance is also negatively impacted by the concurrent absences of wide receiver Mike Williams, due to a season-ending knee injury, and center Corey Linsley, who is on injured reserve due to a heart issue. As a result, Herbert has been forced to hold onto the ball longer, increasing his pressure rate from 27.2% to 42.8%.
The injury is causing ongoing issues, including a discussion over the best way to secure the protective cast on Herbert's finger during gameplay. The existing method failed when the cast was ripped off his finger during a game against Kansas City.