Injured Jason Verrett did what he could
Jason Verrett did what he could. Maybe a little more.
The Chargers cornerback, thought not to play at all Thursday, started against the Broncos. A shoulder injury clearly ailed him. In the second quarter, after a few series, he exited the game.
He watched the second half in a gray sweatshirt, his left arm in a sling.
Get well soon.
Verrett was missed. So was cornerback Brandon Flowers, inactive with a concussion. So was, for that matter, cornerback Steve Williams, inactive with a groin injury. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns in 35-21 Chargers loss.
Verrett surprisingly was made active for the game.
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He worked out hours before kickoff for head athletic trainer James Collins and defensive coordinator John Pagano, among others. He ran well, as would be expected for a player with an upper-body injury, but come game time, it was clear why he was considered a long shot to play.
The first-round pick was in clear pain on the field.
How much it affected him is unclear. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders made three catches with him in coverage on one possession, the last of which was a 2-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
“He fought and gave us all he could,” safety Eric Weddle said. “I’m proud of him. He tried his heart out. That’s all you can ask for.”
Verrett, 23, initially suffered the injury Oct. 12 in the third quarter versus the Raiders.
He briefly exited the game but returned, sealing the win late in the fourth quarter with his first career interception.
Verrett played his senior season at TCU with an injury to his other shoulder. He underwent surgery in March, sidelining him during spring workouts. The current ailment is not related.
It is unclear how Verrett playing Thursday impacts his recovery, if at all. He will undergo an MRI on Friday.
Time heals
For players, there are few perks to Thursday night games.
A long rest that begins now is one of them
The Chargers receive a mini-bye , not playing again until Nov. 2 in Miami. Their actual bye follows that game before hosting the Raiders on Nov. 16. That gives the team one game in a 23-day span.
Nuts ‘n’ Bolts
-A wobbly Jahleel Addae struggled with his balance after delivering a fourth-quarter hit. He stayed in the game amid social-media buzz he should’ve been pulled and gone through the protocol for a possible concussion. Coach Mike McCoy assured post-game that the team has many professionals monitoring the game for such situations. Addae said he passed a concussion test on the sideline and suffered a stinger on the play in question.
-Wide receiver Keenan Allen is now on the board. After a scoreless first seven games, he scored his first touchdown of the year from 2 yards in the second quarter. That gives him five scores in three career games played at Sports Authority Field.
-Malcom Floyd briefly exited the third quarter with a right shoulder injury. The wide receiver went vertical for a 26-yard grab against cornerback Kayvon Webster. He hurried to the sideline and into the locker room but returned in the fourth quarter.
