Sports

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh irate after physical sequence vs. Steelers includes bodyslam of WR, hits on Justin Herbert that tweak QB's ankles

Justin Herbert came up limping after this hit in the first half.
Justin Herbert came up limping after this hit in the first half.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was furious with officials Sunday after a physical sequence against the Steelers caused quarterback Justin Herbert to up coming limping.

The sequence took place in the second quarter of Sunday night's game between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. And the first big hit didn't involve Herbert. On this one, Steelers cornerback James Pierre picked up Chargers receiver Derius Davis and body slammed him after and end-around. 

Pierre grabbed Davis by his thighs, picked him up high off the ground and slammed him head first toward the turf. Davis landed on his shoulder and side and appeared to escape injury. 

Pierre was not penalized for his body slam. 

A few plays later, Herbert took off scrambling under pressure. Two Steelers defenders chased him down and tackled him from behind, and Herbert's left ankle got twisted in the turf. 

Herbert came up limping from the play, but remained in the game. 

Later on the same drive, Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith hit Herbert near his knees after Herbert released the ball. At the same time, safety Kyle Dugger clipped Herbert high, and Herbert's right ankle got twisted.

Herbert immediately pleaded with officials for a flag. 

 Harbaugh took up Herbert's case from the sideline with some animated words toward officials. It was to no avail. Officials didn't throw a flag, and the Chargers settled for a field goal after a failed third-and-10 on their next play. 

NBC officiating analyst Terry McAuley sided with officials and explained the lack of a flag from his perspective: 

"It's not [going low]," McAuley said of the hit. "He hits him, wraps him up high and falls down into his leg. That's not a foul for roughing the passer."

Video of the hit is above. You can be the judge.

While Herbert got banged up on the sequence, he didn't leave the game. Herbert spent part of ensuing possession getting both ankles wrapped, then returned to the game for the next Chargers possession. 

Sunday Night Football: Chargers score TD after Aaron Rodgers pick, lead 12-3 at halftime

Neither the Steelers nor the Chargers were able to generate much offensively for the vast majority of the first half. But an Aaron Rodgers interception late in the second quarter led to Los Angeles taking a 12-3 lead at halftime.

Pittsburgh had second-and-6 from its own 27-yard line when Rodgers overshot receiver DK Metcalf and was picked off by rookie safety RJ Mickens — who returned the ball to the Pittsburgh 38.

It took seven plays to get into the end zone, but quarterback Justin Herbert hit a wide-open Ladd McConkey over the middle for a 15-yard touchdown

Rodgers has looked off for much of the night, sailing some passes and looking indecisive. The quarterback was strip-sacked in the end zone by Khalil Mack, landing on the ball before Mack tackled him for a safety.

Rodgers finished the first half an unimpressive 7-of-14 for 64 yards with an interception.

The Steelers had opened the scoring with Chris Boswell’s 59-yard field goal early in the first quarter. But Boswell missed a 45-yard attempt wide right early in the second period.

In the first half, Pittsburgh had three first downs, 85 total yards, and was 0-of-6 on third down.

The Chargers’ numbers weren’t that much better. They tallied nine first downs, 134 total yards, and were 2-of-8 on third down.

Herbert was 13-of-22 for 91 yards with a touchdown. Running back Kimani Vidal has eight carries for 49 yards.

While he hasn’t shown signs of needing to be taken out of the game, Herbert had his ankle taped on the sideline after taking a couple of hard hits midway through the second quarter. He was laboring on the field for a couple of plays before Cameron Dicker connected on a 32-yard field goal.

Steelers cornerback Darius Slay went down early in the second quarter after making a tackle on a run play. He was able to walk off the field gingerly under his own power before heading to the sideline medical tent for further evaluation. Pittsburgh announced Slay is being evaluated for a concussion in the locker room and is questionable to return.

The Chargers will receive the second-half kickoff.

UPDATE 10:05 p.m. ET: Slay has been downgraded to out with a concussion.

Aaron Jones on Vikings false starts: Ravens were playing a little game, we have to lock in

The Vikings outgained the Ravens on Sunday afternoon, but three turnovers and 12 penalties helped Baltimore pick up a 27-19 road win.

Eight of those penalties were false starts, which is the most by a home team in the last 16 seasons. After the game, running back Aaron Jones suggested that "move calls" being made by the Ravens defense contributed to the rash of early jumps.

"Yeah, they're playing a little game there, too," Jones said, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. 'So, that's what they get paid to do. And we just got to lock in a little more."

Head coach Kevin O'Connell said he wondered if that was happening during the game, but "did not get any indication from our guys they were doing that" and said it is up to the Vikings to "correct whatever the issue was" with both the penalties and the turnovers.

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