Rib injury has Bolts QB Herbert day-to-day

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has fractured rib cartilage after taking a hit during the fourth quarter of the 27-24 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

Coach Brandon Staley said a CT scan Friday morning confirmed the injury. Staley said the thirdyear quarterback is day-today and that his status will be evaluated again Monday. The Chargers (1-1) won’t return to the practice field until Wednesday, when they will begin preparing to host the Jaguars on Sept. 25.

“I think we got good news in terms of what the CT scan showed. You don’t want it to be a fracture of the bone. So the fact that it’s cartilage was a good sign,” Staley said. “It’s going to come down to comfort. Let the weekend calm down and then when we get into game week we’ll have a better sense of how he’s feeling.”

Herbert completed 33 of 48 passes for 334 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He missed only one play after taking a hard hit from Kansas City defensive lineman Michael Danna on a 12-yard completion to Gerald Everett with five minutes to go.

PATRIOTS: Quarterback Mac Jones returned to practice a day after sitting out with an illness, putting him on track to start New England’s game with Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Jones hasn’t missed a regular-season start since being drafted No. 15 overall in 2021.

He was a full participant for practice Wednesday after suffering a back injury during the Patriots’ season-opening loss at Miami. His absence on Thursday marked the first time he had missed a regularseason practice.

Jones said Wednesday that his back was feeling good and he expected to play against Pittsburgh.

If he can’t play in Sunday’s game, backup Brian Hoyer would be in line to make his first start since Week 4 of the 2020 season.

DOLPHINS: Miami is placing starting right tackle Austin Jackson on shortterm injured reserve after he hurt his right ankle against the Patriots.

Jackson will miss at least four games, including the matchup Sunday at Baltimore.

“It was kind of close,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “Like I’ve articulated, ankles are kind of finicky. But really, what we wanted to avoid after we took all consideration into effect was that we don’t want it to linger for the whole season.”