Tag Archives: Herbert

Sports

Chargers-Colts score, takeaways: Justin Herbert shines, Nick Foles flops as Los Angeles clinches playoff berth

Leave a comment

Everything was setting up for the Chargers to stumble over themselves once again. With an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth Monday night against the reeling Colts, Los Angeles barely managed a touchdown lead deep into Week 16’s prime-time finale. Star safety Derwin James got ejected early due to an illegal hit. And quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled the ball away to give Indianapolis momentum going into the final quarter. No matter. Because Nick Foles’ debut as the Colts’ latest fill-in QB went about as poorly as possible. Feasting up front and getting just enough Herbert production down the stretch, Brandon Staley’s AFC West contender left Lucas Oil Stadium with a 20-3 victory and, more importantly, that coveted ticket to the postseason.

Falling to 4-10-1 with their fifth straight loss under interim coach Jeff Saturday, the Colts kept things close for a while, but ultimately were no match for L.A., which never trailed in the contest.

Here are some additional takeaways from Monday night’s Chargers victory:

Why the Chargers won

They have someone who can throw the ball. On a night where Indy may have spoiled L.A.’s chance at a playoff berth if not for their third-string QB playing hero ball behind a shoddy O-line from the first snap, the Chargers got the “W” because their own signal-caller, Justin Herbert, delivered on just enough downfield strikes. Austin Ekeler was vital once again, albeit not consistently on the ground, so it was Herbert’s laser that saved the day, feeding Keenan Allen (11 catches, 104 yards) to keep L.A. knocking at the door. Brandon Staley’s defense was just as, if not more, important, steadily getting after Nick Foles and playing opportunistic ball in the secondary even after losing star safety Derwin James to a first-half ejection. Six different players logged a sack by night’s end, while the corner duo of Asante Samuel Jr. and Michael Davis had their way.

Why the Colts lost

The offensive line was once again iffy, surrendering seven sacks and nine QB hits. But unfortunately nothing doomed them more than Nick Foles, whose big-play mentality was a welcome idea for the Colts’ revolving door under center, but whose timing and decision-making was all wonky all night. When he wasn’t getting swallowed up by L.A.’s front, Foles was too often chucking it up to unwitting targets out of the gate, gifting the Chargers three picks (and almost more). Matt Ryan or Sam Ehlinger might not have been much better, but they couldn’t have been a whole lot worse. It’s a shame, too, because the offensive collapse wasted an otherwise stalwart night for Gus Bradley’s defense, which played fast and aggressive both up front and on the back end.

Turning point

The Colts hung around, staying within 10 until deep into the game, despite too many turnovers with the ball in their hands. Given a shot to pull even closer, and perhaps even redeem their sloppy offensive night, they lined up to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Chargers’ 12-yard line, kicking off the final quarter. But Nick Foles’ QB sneak came up short, with Drue Tranquill stuffing the play, returning the ball to Herbert and Co., who promptly went on a 12-play TD drive to seal the decision.

Play of the game

It would’ve been even cooler had Keenan Allen stayed in-bounds, but this laser from Herbert on a trick play helped L.A. extend its lead to 10-3 before halftime. It also confirmed that the Chargers QB has one of the best cannons in the game:

What’s next

The Chargers (9-6) will return home on New Year’s Day to host the Rams (5-10), who blasted the Broncos on Christmas Day, prompting Denver to fire coach Nathaniel Hackett. The Colts (4-10-1), meanwhile, will hit the road for a cross-conference matchup with the Giants (8-6-1), who fell to the Vikings on Saturday but are looking to secure one of the NFC’s final wild card spots.

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0379/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Sports

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ribs) expected to decide on pain-killing shot during Sunday pregame warmups, sources say

Leave a comment

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is expected to make a decision during pregame warm-ups on Sunday about whether to take a pain-killing injection in his fractured rib cartilage to try and play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Herbert “is pushing to play,” a source told Schefter. Though Herbert wants to play, there was growing skepticism about his status going into the weekend; the decision to play has bounced back and forth throughout the week, Schefter reports.

Herbert was injured against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, taking a hit from defensive end Mike Danna that left him lying on the field for an extended period.

Herbert is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

“It’s day-by-day, just waiting to see how he feels,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said on Friday. “We’re going to progress through the rest of this week and see how it goes.”

Meanwhile, Herbert is not expected to have his center Corey Linsley, who is doubtful with a knee injury, Schefter reports.

In addition, receiver Keenan Allen, who is questionable with a hamstring injury, would like to try and play, but it’s not certain he will, Schefter reports. Cornerback J.C. Jackson (ankle) is doubtful and also not expected to play, Schefter reports.

Read original article here

Sports

NFL Week 3 injuries: Justin Herbert listed as questionable; George Kittle, Michael Pittman set to return

Leave a comment

We are in the midst of Week 3 in the NFL thanks to the Steelers and Browns kicking us off on Thursday night and now we have the main course on deck that features a full slate of games on Sunday. Of course, injuries will be a key storyline to follow as we enter the weekend, especially with the bulk of the teams across the league submitting their final injury reports. 

Despite a stellar start to the season, the Bills defense will be down a number of key weapons when it travels to Miami to take on the Dolphins. Meanwhile, the status of Chargers superstar quarterback Justin Herbert also remains fluid as they are preparing to host the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

With teams finishing up the week of practice, they’ve released their final injury reports and rolled out game statuses for Week 3. Below, you’ll be able to find each of those reports and a breakdown of some of the biggest injuries. 

All NFL odds come via Caesars Sportsbook. 

Kansas City will once again be without starting kicker Harrison Butker as he continues to deal with a left ankle injury. In his place, Matt Ammendola will likely retain kicking duties after hitting both of his field goals and all three of his extra points in the Chiefs’ Week 2 win over the Chargers. Meanwhile, receiver Mecole Hardman (heel) practiced fully on Friday after being a limited participant to begin the week and carries no designation.  

The biggest news for the Colts is that they’ll be getting a boost in the receiving game as Michael Pittman Jr. does not carry a designation after being a full participant in practice on Friday. Pittman missed last week’s matchup due to a quad injury. Rookie wideout Alec Pierce will also play after clearing concussion protocol. As for Leonard, he has been ruled out, but head coach Frank Reich noted this week that the linebacker had a “really good week.” He also hasn’t suffered any setbacks, so his return could be around the corner. 

Lions rookie pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday after sitting out the first two practices of the week due to a thigh injury. He is officially questionable. Meanwhile, star running back D’Andre Swift was also listed as questionable after back-to-back days of being limited. 

Neither Booth nor Smith practiced all week, so seeing them ruled out isn’t totally surprising. That said, Hendricks’ status will be worth monitoring after he popped up on the injury report on Friday as a limited participant due to a toe injury and is now questionable. 

Collins did not practice all week, but the team is still listing him as questionable and holding out hope he can play in Week 3. If he cannot, either D’Ante Smith or Hakeem Adeniji will likely get the nod to start at right tackle. 

With the Jets, the are still holding back quarterback Zach Wilson as he continues to recover from a preseason knee injury, but this could be the final week he’s sidelined. In his absence, Joe Flacco will continue to play under center. Meanwhile, Davis and Fant were the only two questionable Jets that were limited on Friday with the rest listed as full participants. 

Baltimore saw Ronnie Stanley not participate in practice on Friday after being limited throughout the week, so he’s trending in the wrong direction heading into the weekend. Meanwhile, each player listed as questionable was a full participant during Friday’s session except for Isaiah likely, who was limited. Starting receiver Rashad Bateman did not practice on Friday, but the team notes it was not injury related and he carries no designation. 

Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers and safety Kyle Dugger returned to practice on a limited basis on Friday after both were held out on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, linebacker Raekwon McMillan is heading in the opposite direction as he did not practice Friday after being limited throughout the week. 

Despite being questionable, the Texans listed Collins and Deculus as nonparticipants on Friday, so they are not trending positively heading into the weekend. Quarterback Davis Mills was listed on the injury report with a right thumb injury, but was a full participant all week and carries no designation. 

Roquan Smith did not practice all week due to a hip injury but the team is not closing the door on him playing as they’ve officially listed him as questionable. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson did not practice on Friday after popping up on the injury report Thursday as a limited participant due to a quad injury. 

The promising sign for New Orleans is that both quarterback Jameis Winston and running back Alvin Kamara were able to practice all week, albeit on a limited basis. The fact that neither suffered a setback is encouraging that they’ll be able to go in Week 3. 

Christian McCaffrey was a full participant on Friday and carries no designation after an ankle injury forced him to miss Wednesday’s practice and be limited on Tuesday. 

Buffalo Bills (-5.5) at Miami Dolphins

  • Bills: S Micah Hyde (neck), CB Dane Jackson (neck), DT Ed Oliver (ankle), DT Jordan Phillips (hamstring), S Jordan Poyer (foot) OUT; WR Gabe Davis (ankle), TE Dawson Knox (foot), C Mitch Morse (elbow), DT Time Settle (calf) QUESTIONABLE
  • Dolphins: TE Cethan Carter (concussion), TE Hunter Long (ankle) OUT; T Terron Armstead (toe), DT Raekwon Davis (knee), CB Xavien Howard (groin), WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ribs, toe) QUESTIONABLE

The biggest news out of Buffalo is Micah Hyde being placed on IR for a neck injury he suffered during Monday night’s win against the Titans. Hyde will miss the remainder of the 2022 season due to a herniated disc.

Buffalo’s defense will be missing a number of other key players when it takes on the Dolphins, including Poyer, Oliver and Phillips. Oliver being ruled out is a bit surprising considering that he was limited throughout practice for the entire week. All the other players already ruled out didn’t hit the practice field at all. Meanwhile, Gabe Davis was limited all week and is officially questionable, but did tell reporters this week that he’s “100 percent” optimistic he’ll play.

Miami is still holding out hope that Terron Armstead will be able to play in Week 3 despite not practicing at all this week, officially listing him as questionable. When asked about it this week, head coach Mike McDaniel said “it is literally up in the air.”

The Eagles are pretty healthy heading into Week 3, listing only guard Landon Dickerson on the final injury report due to a foot injury. He did not practice with the team on Friday and is questionable. 

Washington will have safety Kamren Curl when they take on the Eagles in Week 3 after dealing with a thumb injury he suffered against the Chiefs in the preseason that required surgery. He was a full participant all week. Meanwhile, Toohill and Wise did not practice all week so their status is not too surprising. 

Renfrow and Perryman were sidelined all week due to injury and were unable to take any positive steps on Friday, so the team has ruled them out for Week 3. Every questionable player was able to practice on a limited basis on Friday expect for running back Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with an illness. He did not practice on Thursday or Friday and is not traveling with the team to Tennessee on Friday. 

Taylor Lewan did not practice all week due to a knee injury, so he’ll be sidelined for Week 3. Rookie wideout Kyle Phillips was able to practice on a limited basis despite a shoulder injury, but that team is doubtful he’ll be able to play. As for Zach Cunningham, his situation will be worth monitoring this weekend as he did not practice Friday after appearing on the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury. 

Wilkinson practiced with Atlanta on Wednesday, but was not present on Thursday and the team has since noted that he’ll be out for this game due to a personal matter. In his absence, the Falcons will look to either Colby Gossett or Chuma Edoga to take over at left guard. 

Seattle will be without defensive end Shelby Harris when they take on the Falcons. Harris suffered a glute injury during last week’s loss to the 49ers. Meanwhile, if Justin Coleman is unable to play, rookie Coby Bryant is expected to work as Seattle’s nickel corner.

Rams defensive back Jordan Fuller appeared on the injury report Thursday as a hamstring injury limited him and was downgraded Friday as a nonparticipant. He is officially questionable. 

After missing Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2, James Conner was able to return on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday, and is officially questionable to play against the Rams. Neither Moore or Turner practiced this week so they were ruled out. 

Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers (-3)

Jacksonville had been remarkably healthy all week, but did list corner Shaquill Griffin on its final injury report after he popped up on Friday with a hip injury. He is officially questionable. Outside of him, everyone else should be a full-go. 

The Chargers have officially listed quarterback Justin Herbert as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against Jacksonville after he suffered a fracture to his rib cartilage in Week 2. Herbert was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but was held out of Friday’s session. The line for this game at Caesars Sportsbook fell from Chargers -7 to -3 on Friday. For Herbert, it could come down to pain tolerance and both sides determining if playing him is worth the risk. Meanwhile, Keenan Allen also didn’t practice Friday after being limited earlier in the week. Neither J.C. Jackson nor Corey Linsley practiced all week. 

Bakhtiari was limited on both Thursday and Friday, which is an encouraging sign that he could make his debut in Week 3. That said, head coach Matt LaFleur noted that we won’t truly know his status until Sunday, so he seems like a true game-time decision. Despite being listed as questionable, rookie wideout Christian Watson did not practice on Thursday or Friday due to a hamstring injury. On a more positive note, Allen Lazard does not carry a designation after returning to practice on a limited basis on Friday after missing Thursday’s session. 

Tampa Bay will be down its top two wide receivers in Week 3. Not only is Mike Evans serving a one-game suspension, but Chris Godwin has now been ruled out due to a hamstring injury that kept him out last week. Tom Brady — who was listed on the injury report with a right finger injury — does not carry a designation. That said, the veteran quarterback may be playing with limited weapons as Gage, Jones and Perriman are all listed as questionable.  

  • 49ers: RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle), TE Tyler Kroft (knee), OL Daniel Brunskill (hamstring) OUT; DT Arik Armstead (foot), OL Colton McKivitz (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
  • Broncos: CB Darius Phillips (hamstring) OUT; WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), LB Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), WR K.J. Hamler (knee, hip), WR Jerry Jeudy (rib, shoulder),LB Josey Jewell (calf), DE Dre’Mont Jones (neck), G Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), DT Mike Purcell (elbow), CB Patrick Surtain II (shoulder), T Billy Turner (knee) QUESTIONABLE

The major news out of San Francisco is that tight end George Kittle is set to make his 2022 debut after missing the first two games due to a groin injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Kittle will have no restrictions. As for not-so-positive news, Armstead did not practice all week due to a foot injury that officially has him listed as questionable. 

Denver was a large number of players questionable for Sunday, including receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Both were able to practice on Friday with Jeudy being listed as a limited participant while Surtain practiced fully. 

Analysis to come.

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0324/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Sports

QB Justin Herbert day-to-day, ‘feeling more comfortable,’ says Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley

Leave a comment

6:43 PM ET

  • Lindsey ThiryESPN

    Close
    • Covered Rams for two years for Los Angeles Times
    • Previously covered the Falcons
    • Has covered the NBA and college football and basketball

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Six days removed from suffering a fracture to his rib cartilage, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is considered day-to-day ahead of a Week 3 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday.

“He’s gotten a lot of rest since the last game,” Staley said. “He’s feeling more comfortable. I know that he was able to do some light throwing yesterday, some rotational work, but we’re just going to take it day by day and see where his comfort level is.”

Herbert did not throw any passes during the brief portion of practice open to reporters Wednesday. The third-year quarterback watched as backup quarterbacks Chase Daniel and Easton Stick took throwing reps.

Herbert did partake in handing balls off to running backs and was listed as a limited participant on the Chargers’ injury report.

Receiver Keenan Allen and tight end Donald Parham Jr., both of whom have been dealing with hamstring injuries, also returned to practice in a limited capacity.

Staley said whether Herbert plays Sunday will be a decision that begins with the quarterback.

“It will start with him and then obviously him feeling good about what the medical team feels like is best, him weighing the options and then us making a good decision,” Staley said.

The Chargers doctor who is caring for Herbert’s injury is being sued for medical malpractice by former Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is seeking at least $5 million after suffering a punctured lung while being treated for a rib injury in 2020, according to copies of the original lawsuit and subsequent filings related to the case obtained by ESPN.

When asked Wednesday if there was any trepidation about Herbert’s treatment given the recent history of quarterback care, Staley said the care of players is of utmost importance.

“Any player that goes through something like this, that’s your biggest responsibility as a coach is to take care of your players, “Staley said. “So I think we have full alignment with Justin and his family, his agents, and then the medical professionals, and that’s what we’re going to try to do is have alignment that way and just kind of trust the process and hopefully get him well soon.”

Herbert suffered the injury in last Thursday’s 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

With 5 minutes, 9 seconds remaining in the game, Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna hit Herbert, leaving the quarterback lying on the field for an extended period.

Herbert returned after missing only one play and was immediately hit again, as he was crushed between Chiefs pass-rushers Frank Clark and George Karlaftis. Herbert, however, remained in the game.

In two games, Herbert has passed for 613 yards and six touchdowns, with an interception.

Read original article here

Sports

Chargers vs. Chiefs score, takeaways: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs rally past Chargers; Justin Herbert injured

Leave a comment

There was a lot of talk about who could overtake the Kansas City Chiefs in a new-look AFC West. The other three teams in the division made big-time additions to their rosters in the offseason, but two weeks in, and the Chiefs are still the kings of the best division in football. Thursday night, Patrick Mahomes and Co. downed the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24.

Both Mahomes and Justin Herbert started off slow, but ultimately found their respective rhythms. Mahomes built on his impressive Week 1 performance, completing 24 of 35 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Herbert on the other hand completed 33 of 48 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Mike Williams stepped up for the inactive Keenan Allen in a big way, as he caught eight passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough.

The Chiefs made an interesting decision to kick a field goal on the Chargers’ 1-yard line to start the fourth quarter, which tied the game at 17 apiece. Fans didn’t question that decision for long, as the rookie Jaylen Watson picked off Herbert at the 1-yard line on the next drive, and returned it 99 yards the other way for the Chiefs’ first lead of the game.

Herbert suffered a chest/rib injury that knocked him out for a play while trying to orchestrate a comeback. While he returned, he didn’t look comfortable at all. He still led a nine-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Josh Palmer on fourth-and-goal, but L.A. could not recover the onside kick

Why the Chiefs won

The Chiefs did not start out strong, but managed to never get too far behind even when they were struggling. In the first half it seemed like the Chargers should have more of a lead, but they did a good job staying in it. The momentum shifted in the second half with 20 unanswered points from the Chiefs that took them from being down 14-7 to taking a 27-14 lead.

The Chiefs got lucky on some near interceptions by the Chargers, specifically from Asante Samuel Jr., that did not result in a takeaway. They nearly had a fumble by the goal line as well, with the ball coming out of Travis Kelce’s hands following a body slam by Derwin James, but he was ruled down by contact.

If any of these near turnovers ended up as actual Chiefs turnovers, this could have been a different story.

Speaking of turnovers, it was ultimately a turnover that made the difference. The Chargers were knocking on the door of the end zone, but a 99-yard pick 6 from Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson ended up giving Kansas City its first lead of the game. Another three points sealed the deal and the Chargers ran out of time to catch up.

Why the Chargers lost

The Chargers had the lead for the majority of the game, but unfortunately for them and their fans, it is not who has the lead for most of the time. 

Despite coming out strong and impressing in the first half, they never had a large lead. When it comes to playing Mahomes and the Chiefs, a close lead is as good as no lead, because they are a team that knows how to come back. 

The Chargers’ errors, like struggling on third down, giving Mahomes and Co. good field position after a near safety in the second half, and the pick 6 were the difference-makers.

The second half was a different story than the first, as the Chiefs chipped away at the lead while the Chargers failed to put together a scoring drive. The Chargers scored a touchdown early in the third quarter and did not score again until it was too late.

Herbert was not wildly outplayed by Mahomes and held his own as the pressure rose, but in a matchup of two elite teams, sometimes one interception makes all the difference. 

Turning point

The Chiefs’ second touchdown of the day was a Justin Watson pass from Mahomes for 41 yards and kicked off their 20 unanswered points. Until then, the Chargers had control and the Chiefs looked like they needed a spark and this was just that spark to get their run started. The next touchdown was also from a Watson — Jaylen Watson — whose pick 6 gave the Chiefs the lead for good.

Play of the game

The undeniable play of the game was the 99-yard pick 6 from Jaylen Watson. According to Next Gen Stats, “The Chiefs’ win probability jumped from 31% to 85% as a result of Watson’s pick 6 of Herbert, a 54% increase, the biggest win probability swing on a pick 6 over the last three seasons.”

Take a look at the long interception return:

What’s next

Up next for the Chiefs are the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 25. The Chiefs will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the AFC South team, that currently stands at 0-0-1 heading into the weekend following a tie against the Houston Texans. 

The Chargers will play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 25 at SoFi Stadium. The Jaguars lost 28-22 to the Washington Commanders in Week 1. They take on the Colts on Sunday.

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0322/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Sports

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs rally past Chargers; Justin Herbert injured

Leave a comment

There was a lot of talk about who could overtake the Kansas City Chiefs in a new-look AFC West. The other three teams in the division made big-time additions to their rosters in the offseason, but two weeks in, and the Chiefs are still the kings of the best division in football. Thursday night, Patrick Mahomes and Co. downed the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24.

Both Mahomes and Justin Herbert started off slow, but ultimately found their respective rhythms. Mahomes built on his impressive Week 1 performance, completing 24 of 35 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Herbert on the other hand completed 33 of 48 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Mike Williams stepped up for the inactive Keenan Allen in a big way, as he caught eight passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough.

The Chiefs made an interesting decision to kick a field goal on the Chargers’ 1-yard line to start the fourth quarter, which tied the game at 17 apiece. Fans didn’t question that decision for long, as the rookie Jaylen Watson picked off Herbert at the 1-yard line on the next drive, and returned it 99 yards the other way for the Chiefs’ first lead of the game.

Herbert suffered a chest/rib injury that knocked him out for a play while trying to orchestrate a comeback. While he returned, he didn’t look comfortable at all. He still led a nine-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Josh Palmer on fourth-and-goal, but L.A. could not recover the onside kick

Why the Chiefs won

The Chiefs did not start out strong, but managed to never get too far behind even when they were struggling. In the first half it seemed like the Chargers should have more of a lead, but they did a good job staying in it. The momentum shifted in the second half with 20 unanswered points from the Chiefs that took them from being down 14-7 to taking a 27-14 lead.

The Chiefs got lucky on some near interceptions by the Chargers, specifically from Asante Samuel Jr., that did not result in a takeaway. They nearly had a fumble by the goal line as well, with the ball coming out of Travis Kelce’s hands following a body slam by Derwin James, but he was ruled down by contact.

If any of these near turnovers ended up as actual Chiefs turnovers, this could have been a different story.

Speaking of turnovers, it was ultimately a turnover that made the difference. The Chargers were knocking on the door of the end zone, but a 99-yard pick 6 from Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson ended up giving Kansas City its first lead of the game. Another three points sealed the deal and the Chargers ran out of time to catch up.

Why the Chargers lost

The Chargers had the lead for the majority of the game, but unfortunately for them and their fans, it is not who has the lead for most of the time. 

Despite coming out strong and impressing in the first half, they never had a large lead. When it comes to playing Mahomes and the Chiefs, a close lead is as good as no lead, because they are a team that knows how to come back. 

The Chargers’ errors, like struggling on third down, giving Mahomes and Co. good field position after a near safety in the second half, and the pick 6 were the difference-makers.

The second half was a different story than the first, as the Chiefs chipped away at the lead while the Chargers failed to put together a scoring drive. The Chargers scored a touchdown early in the third quarter and did not score again until it was too late.

Herbert was not wildly outplayed by Mahomes and held his own as the pressure rose, but in a matchup of two elite teams, sometimes one interception makes all the difference. 

Turning point

The Chiefs’ second touchdown of the day was a Justin Watson pass from Mahomes for 41 yards and kicked off their 20 unanswered points. Until then, the Chargers had control and the Chiefs looked like they needed a spark and this was just that spark to get their run started. The next touchdown was also from a Watson — Jaylen Watson — whose pick 6 gave the Chiefs the lead for good.

Play of the game

The undeniable play of the game was the 99-yard pick 6 from Jaylen Watson. According to Next Gen Stats, “The Chiefs’ win probability jumped from 31% to 85% as a result of Watson’s pick 6 of Herbert, a 54% increase, the biggest win probability swing on a pick 6 over the last three seasons.”

Take a look at the long interception return:

What’s next

Up next for the Chiefs are the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 25. The Chiefs will travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the AFC South team, that currently stands at 0-0-1 heading into the weekend following a tie against the Houston Texans. 

The Chargers will play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 25 at SoFi Stadium. The Jaguars lost 28-22 to the Washington Commanders in Week 1. They take on the Colts on Sunday.



Read original article here

Sports

Chargers vs. Raiders score, takeaways: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles sink Las Vegas in Week 1 AFC West showdown

Leave a comment

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to pull off what the other L.A. team accomplished last season by winning the Super Bowl. Their 2022 campaign got off to a solid start as the Chargers defeated the rival Las Vegas Raiders, 24-19.

With the revamped AFC West, every divisional matchup matters — even in Week 1. With an MVP candidate and a revamped defense for L.A., everyone had eyes on this matchup, and the Chargers certainly didn’t disappoint. Justin Herbert completed 26 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He not only managed the game, but picked and chose his shots, and found success doing so. Keenan Allen led the team with four catches for 66 yards, but exited early due to a hamstring injury. Free-agent addition DeAndre Carter impressed, catching three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

As for the Raiders, Derek Carr completed 22 of 37 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, while his new wideout Davante Adams caught 10 passes for 141 yards and one score. The Las Vegas offense scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make things close, but turned the ball over on downs the next possession following the two-minute warning, which sealed the deal.

Here are some key takeaways from the AFC West showdown between the Chargers and Raiders:

Why the Chargers won

There’s plenty of credit to go around when it comes to this Chargers win. It wouldn’t be fair to pick one player, or position group or side of the ball for that matter as to offend the other. Herbert looked fantastic, completing 26 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. The ground game wasn’t too effective, but it didn’t have to be with how the defense played.

Carr was sacked five times for a loss of 29 yards and he threw three interceptions. Even when the Raiders scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to pull within five points and then forced a Chargers’ three-and-out, the L.A. defense stood tall and forced the Raiders to turn the ball over on downs. Newcomer and former Raider Khalil Mack recorded three sacks to go along with six total tackles, and he was arguably the player of the game.

Why the Raiders lost

The Chargers did look like the better team on Sunday, but you have to credit the Raiders for outscoring their opponent 16-7 in the second half. To put it bluntly, Vegas lost the turnover battle 3-0, and the offensive line struggled against this tenacious Chargers pass rush. On the flip side, the Raiders didn’t record a single sack!

The Raiders got behind the eight ball a bit in the first half, as the Chargers scored 14 unanswered in the second quarter. Down 17-3 at halftime, it felt like an uphill battle the entire way. Week 1 is Week 1, but moving forward, we should keep an eye on if Vegas can one, score points, and two, protect Carr. 

Turning point

This was the moment of all moments — the play that ultimately determined the game. Fourth-and-8 with the game on the line, and Carr was sacked by Mack for the third time. You can’t talk enough about how good Mack was on Sunday, and he’s clearly a playmaker that will step up in big moments — not only to sack the quarterback — but also jar the ball loose.

Play of the game

Alright, so the Raiders didn’t have their best performance in Week 1, but at the same time, this is the first game of the regular season. We didn’t see all that this team is capable of. Adams is a huge addition for this squad given his rapport with Carr, and he certainly showed out in his first game as a Raider. The former Packer caught 10 passes for 141 yards — which included this 41-yard thing of beauty. 

Whether it’s his release, his route running, his catching ability or what he does after the reception, this guy is just elite. Make sure you watch until the end of the clip. 

What’s next

The Raiders return to Vegas next week to host the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) on Sunday, Sept. 18, while the Chargers hit the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) on Thursday, Sept. 15.

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0317/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Sports

Chargers vs. Raiders score: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles hold off Las Vegas in Week 1 AFC West showdown

Leave a comment

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking to pull off what the other L.A. team accomplished last season by winning the Super Bowl. Their 2022 campaign got off to a solid start as the Chargers defeated the rival Las Vegas Raiders, 24-19.

With the revamped AFC West, every divisional matchup matters — even in Week 1. With an MVP candidate and a revamped defense for L.A., everyone had eyes on this matchup, and the Chargers certainly didn’t disappoint. Justin Herbert completed 26 of 34 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns. He not only managed the game, but picked and chose his shots, and found success doing so. Keenan Allen led the team with four catches for 66 yards, but exited early due to a hamstring injury. Free-agent addition DeAndre Carter impressed, catching three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

As for the Raiders, Derek Carr completed 22 of 37 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, while his new wideout Davante Adams caught 10 passes for 141 yards and one score. The Las Vegas offense scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make things close, but turned the ball over on downs the next possession following the two-minute warning, which sealed the deal.

Check back soon, as this piece will be turned into takeaways. 

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0317/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Business

‘Ruffling feathers’: How VW fell out of love with Herbert Diess

Leave a comment

When Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess’s strongest competitor, Elon Musk, parked his electric cars on the German group’s lawn by building a factory just 200km from its historic Wolfsburg headquarters, the Bavarian executive’s response was warmer than many expected.

Publicly, Diess told anyone who would listen that Tesla was “paving the way” and “good for the industry”. He was effusive in his praise of Musk’s achievements, even inviting the world’s richest man to lecture a hall full of VW managers and attempting to mimic his social media use. Privately, Diess joked that he wished Musk had moved his plant “100km closer” to VW’s home, so workers could see the American company on the horizon.

Although Diess had developed a reputation for gaffes, these provocations were deliberate. “He felt that if he was ruffling feathers he was going in the right direction,” says Bernstein analyst Daniel Röska of the manager’s attempt to transform a company that had been tainted by the diesel emissions scandal into an agile, electric pioneer. “It was a kind of an all or nothing strategy.”

Those efforts were brought to a screeching halt on Friday when, at the request of the Porsche-Piëch clan who remain VW’s largest shareholders, the company’s supervisory board held an extraordinary meeting and agreed to defenestrate Diess with almost immediate effect, hours after the executive had left for a summer holiday.

Beyond the auto world, Diess had become best known for a series of public blunders. He told the BBC in 2019 he was “not aware” of detention camps in China’s Xinjiang region, and continued to defend VW’s presence there. He was forced to apologise for using the phrase “EBIT macht frei” at a company event, referring to profit incentives but echoing a Nazi slogan.

Earlier this year he provoked outrage in Ukraine after suggesting that Europe should seek to negotiate with Russia, a view not uncommon in corporate Germany but rarely voiced on the international stage.

Back home, Diess gained notoriety for more domestic issues — particularly his skirmishes with VW’s powerful works council, which represents 60,000 employees at Wolfsburg and most of the additional 230,000 staff in wider Germany. He angered the organisation — which has effective control over the supervisory board via a loose alliance with the state of Lower Saxony, VW’s second-largest shareholder — by suggesting the group had 30,000 excess staff in the country. 

A selfie Diess posted on Twitter, posing with Tesla’s Elon Musk and VW’s electric iD3 vehicle © Herbert Diess/Twitter

Last year he also pointed out that while it took VW roughly 30 hours to produce an electric car, Tesla employees managed the same in just 10. This metric was disputed by unions. 

As a result of such confrontations, Diess sustained several bruises in his four-year tenure, including being relieved of direct responsibility for the group’s largest brand, the VW marque, in 2020, and of his role as head of VW’s China business last year. 

“He took decisions without being sentimental about his colleagues’ feelings,” said one person close to the executive. But Diess believed a combative approach was the “only way to move VW” and secure the group’s future, the person added.

Diess’s achievements, which included the rollout of VW’s first purpose-built electric vehicles as part of a €52bn push into the technology, won him an early contract extension from the supervisory board just last year.

“It was always a mixed picture,” said one person familiar with the supervisory board’s decisions. Until very recently, the person added, Diess’s management skills had “more strengths than weaknesses”.

But on Friday all members of the 20-seat board voted to oust Diess and the 63-year-old was not given a chance to plead his case. He was informed of the impending decision just a couple of days in advance, according to one person familiar with the events.

Neither the company, unions or shareholders would publicly confirm why Diess’s position was suddenly deemed untenable. But works council boss Daniela Cavallo had complained that VW’s software arm, for which Diess had taken personal responsibility, had not been performing well, forcing VW’s premium brands Audi and Porsche to rely on their own systems while they waited for the group-wide technology to catch up.

More importantly, Cavallo had pointed to VW’s lacklustre performance in China, which for decades has been the engine of the company’s growth and by far its largest and most profitable market. VW’s new electric vehicles, the ID range, have not sold as well in Asia as the company had hoped, in part, Cavallo argued, because of a failure to cater to local consumer preferences, such as the provision of in-car karaoke machines.

Oliver Blume of Porsche will take over from Diess as VW chief executive © REUTERS

In recent weeks, the Porsche-Piëch family came to believe that Diess’s contract extension had been a “mistake”, according to one person close to shareholders.

The car boss struck a more conciliatory tone when speaking to workers last month, telling employees he believed VW would overtake Tesla in global electric sales by 2025 and pointing to Musk’s recent difficulties in getting plants running at full capacity. But “we started to realise he had not really changed”, the person added.

The board came to the conclusion that Diess’s nominated successor, Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume, was “maybe the more complete manager, [able to look] into the operational side of the business”, the person close to the supervisory board added. The 54-year-old has the added advantage of being born near Wolfsburg and having spent his career at VW group, unlike Diess, who joined from BMW in 2015.

Wolfgang Porsche and Hans Michel Piëch, who speak on behalf of the Porsche-Piëch family, said Blume had enjoyed their “express trust for many years”. He oversaw the rollout of Porsche’s electric Taycan, which is now more popular than the storied 911, they added.

However Blume’s appointment threatens to derail the long-awaited flotation of the Porsche brand — the most profitable in VW’s stable — later this year. Blume, who will retain his role at Porsche in Stuttgart even as he takes the top job in Wolfsburg from September, will be forced to split his time between running the world’s second-largest carmaker and preparing for what is likely to be Germany’s largest public listing in decades.

This arrangement flies in the face of VW’s stated aim for the partial flotation, to give Porsche more “entrepreneurial freedom”, Bernstein’s Röska argued.

“If you are trying to give Porsche AG more independence . . . this move does exactly the opposite” while adding to concerns about the VW group’s labyrinthine corporate governance structure, Röska said.

Nor will there be an entirely fresh start in Wolfsburg, where the day-to-day running of VW will be the responsibility of finance chief Arno Antlitz, a former McKinsey consultant who has been promoted to chief operating officer, and was aligned with Diess on the need for aggressive cost-cutting at the group’s German sites.

Late on Friday, Diess tweeted a picture of him smiling contently next to an electric VW minivan. Earlier, in a LinkedIn post, he had emphasised that VW’s recent difficulties were partly down to events far beyond Wolfsburg, citing semiconductor shortages, other supply challenges and rising raw material and energy prices.

But even more favourable economic circumstances did not shield his predecessors from VW’s disparate powerbrokers. Diess is the fourth boss in a row not to serve out their contract.

“There are too many different interests in this company,” the person close to the departing chief executive said. “It is a listed company but is very much in private hands.”

Read original article here

Business

VW Board Ousts CEO Herbert Diess After Pivot to Electric Vehicles

Leave a comment

Key shareholders in

Volkswagen AG

VOW 0.37%

joined forces with labor leaders to oust Chief Executive Officer

Herbert Diess,

who was in the midst of a push to turn the German auto company into a top maker of electric vehicles.

Mr. Diess will be succeeded by

Oliver Blume,

CEO of VW’s sports-car maker Porsche AG and long an ally of the Porsche-Piëch family that controls a majority of VW voting rights. Mr. Blume will retain his job running Porsche, which is slated for an initial public offering this autumn.

The departing chief executive had repeatedly clashed with unions, which hold half the seats on the German equivalent of the company’s board of directors. Until now he had retained the support of the family, heirs to the VW Beetle inventor, Ferdinand Porsche.

Mr. Diess was informed around midday Thursday that the company’s core shareholders and labor representatives had decided to fire him. The broader supervisory board learned of the decision at a meeting at around 4:30 p.m. Friday local time, according to a person familiar with the proceeding.

The sudden ouster comes after renewed internal strife over the slow progress developing core software for the company’s new generation of electric vehicles. The delays have caused the launches of some models to be pushed back, raising doubts among the Porsche-Piëch family about Mr. Diess’s ability to deliver on his promises, people familiar with the situation said.

Herbert Diess is leaving VW as it struggles in developing core software for its new generation of electric vehicles.



Photo:

Ralph Orlowski/Reuters

VW’s leadership crisis has plunged the company’s electric-vehicle strategy into uncertainty and has raised questions about the company’s governance, which is dominated by a triumvirate of family shareholders, the German state of Lower Saxony and the country’s biggest trade union.

“The hope of the supervisory board must be for new group CEO Blume to have more success in guiding the software strategy of the group,” Daniel Roeska, analyst at Bernstein Research, said in a note to clients. “However, it will take months to come up with a new plan, and creating unrest as the group is heading into a challenging 2023 is the wrong time, in our view.”

Mr. Diess couldn’t be reached to comment. Mr. Diess has said that before joining VW, he had turned down a job offer from

Elon Musk,

which has fueled speculation that he could join

Tesla Inc.

if he left VW.

Auto-industry CEOs around the world are wrestling with how best to transition to new technologies—much of which isn’t core to their companies’ expertise and requires different thinking, cost structures and skill sets.

Car executives are under pressure to get ahead of new rivals, many of them in Silicon Valley, which have deeper pockets and are unencumbered by a capital-intensive legacy business focused on making gasoline-powered vehicles.

In Detroit, the leadership at

General Motors Co.

and

Ford Motor Co.

have outlined bold moves in recent years to transform their operations, including the creation of new supply chains for batteries and the hiring of new kinds of talent. Ford this year took the unusual step of splitting its gas-engine and EV operations into two separate divisions, a move that executives have said will help it be more agile in its shift to new technologies.

Meanwhile, investors are aggressively betting on the EV space, trying to figure out who will be the next Tesla.

With gas prices on a wild ride, many consumers are exploring whether buying an electric vehicle could save them money in the long run. WSJ’s George Downs breaks down four factors to consider when buying a new car. Photo composite: George Downs

Mr. Diess has defined the industry’s challenge as shifting from banging metal into cars to developing the skills, resources and vision to create software-defined cars, vehicles that in many ways have more in common with an iPhone than a conventional car. His attempt to catch up with Tesla was hampered by difficulties turning VW into a developer of software, which is the heart of modern electric vehicles and future self-driving cars.

In recent weeks, people familiar with the company said it had rebooted its plan to develop a unified operating system for its cars after trouble delivering the code led VW’s Audi and Porsche brands to postpone the launch of new premium electric models.

It couldn’t be determined whether Mr. Blume would continue to pursue Mr. Diess’s strategy of keeping core software development in-house or whether he would turn to

Alphabet Inc.’s

Google or

Apple Inc.

as some rivals have.

In March, Mr. Blume said he and his management team met senior Apple executives for a meeting at which they discussed a range of potential projects. Mr. Blume disclosed no further details, and it couldn’t be determined what was discussed.

Ferdinand Dudenhöffer,

director of Center for Automotive Research in Duisburg, Germany, said it was to be expected that Mr. Blume would present a new software strategy for the company.

“This big issue of the software-defined car is a huge challenge for conventional auto makers,” Mr. Dudenhöffer said. “Either auto makers will become tech companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft, or they will become dependent on the tech giants.”

Mr. Diess survived several challenges to his position. In December, following a clash with labor representatives, directors stripped him of some of his responsibilities and reshuffled his management team. But this week’s move to push him out came suddenly and wasn’t linked to any single incident, people familiar with the decision said.

At the supervisory-board meeting on Friday afternoon,

Hans Dieter Pötsch,

chairman of the supervisory board and a key ally of the Porsche heirs, presented a deal reached previously with top officials of the IG Metall trade union in a smaller meeting.

The families and union leaders agreed to remove Mr. Diess in the belief that Mr. Blume, 54 years old, who became CEO of Porsche in 2015, would lead with more consensus among management and VW stakeholders, people familiar with the decision said. Mr. Blume, an engineer by training, has long been a favorite of the Porsche-Piëch families and union leaders as a successor to Mr. Diess. But Mr. Blume has repeatedly said he was happy at Porsche.

Once the controlling families decided Mr. Diess had to go, they approached Mr. Blume, people familiar with the family said, and urged him to take the job. Mr. Blume agreed, they said.

“Blume is seen as someone with a more congenial personality and management style,” one of the people said. “He speaks to his colleagues on the executive board differently and has had success at Porsche.”

According to the people with knowledge of the decision, the Porsche-Piëch family concluded that Mr. Diess’s personality led to repeated conflict within the company and that he didn’t appear to have the software problems under control. While not the only issue that weighed on the family’s mind, the software troubles began to affect new models and eroded the confidence that Mr. Diess could get the issues under control.

Hours before his ousting, Mr. Diess, who will step down on Sept. 1, posted a holiday message to workers ahead of the summer breaks.

“After a really stressful first half of 2022 many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved summer break,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “Enjoy the break—we are in good shape for the second half.”

Mr. Diess joined VW in 2015 from

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

, initially as chief of the VW brand. In that role, he began to lay the groundwork for VW’s electric-vehicle strategy, a plan that has seen VW’s brands, including Porsche, Audi, Seat, Škoda, Lamborghini and Bentley, develop core electric models with a plan to shift fully to EVs this decade.

Under Mr. Diess’s leadership, VW embarked on a plan to build battery cell manufacturing companies around the world to power its new generation of EVs. It recently announced that it would create a new company in the U.S. under the Scout brand to build rugged, off-road electric trucks and SUVs. The move is part of a focus to rebalance the company’s heavy reliance on the Chinese market, where it makes 40% of sales.

While union leaders have acknowledged Mr. Diess’s strategic vision and his achievement in transforming VW’s culture for the EV age, they have questioned his ability to execute, as highlighted by the software problems.

Daniela Cavallo,

the head of VW’s works council, has said Mr. Diess had failed to involve employees in key decisions. She criticized him on his warning to the supervisory board last year that 30,000 jobs at its flagship plant were at stake if VW failed to accelerate its EV shift.

In a statement, Ms. Cavallo said the VW group “wants to emerge strengthened from the historical change in the world of mobility in a leading position. However, it is also our aim that, despite the great challenges, job security and profitability remain equal corporate goals in the coming years.”

Mr. Blume joined Volkswagen in 1994 and has held management positions for the brands Audi, Seat, Volkswagen and Porsche.

“Oliver Blume has proven his operational and strategic skills in various positions within the group and in several brands and has managed Porsche AG from a financial, technological and cultural standpoint with great success for seven years running,” Mr. Pötsch said. VW said Mr. Blume would continue as chief executive of Porsche after a possible IPO.

—Christina Rogers contributed to this article.

Write to William Boston at william.boston@wsj.com and Georgi Kantchev at georgi.kantchev@wsj.com

Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Read original article here