NFLPA investigating Tyrod Taylor pregame injection; Justin Herbert to start Sunday

The NFL Players Association has initiated an investigation into Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s complications stemming from a pregame pain-killing injection, according to George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs.

Atallah tweeted Wednesday the NFLPA’s medical and legal team have been in touch with Taylor and his agent since Sunday collecting facts related to the pregame injection, which was administered to address a rib injury but ended up sending Taylor to a local hospital.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday on NFL Now that Taylor specifically experienced a punctured lung after the Chargers doctor attempted to administer a shot to Taylor’s ribs.

Taylor was discharged Sunday, hours after he’d intended to play against the Chiefs while wearing a flak jacket but could not participate due to the injection, which caused chest pain and difficulty breathing that required the trip to the hospital.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn told reporters Wednesday that Taylor is considered week to week and that he is not currently considering placing him on IR. Lynn also announced Justin Herbert will start a second consecutive game for the Chargers.

“There were complications with his shot. He will not be 100 percent this week, therefore he will not play,” Lynn said. “Justin Herbert will start at quarterback. I am looking forward to seeing him play with a week of preparation and knowing he is the starter.”

Lynn added: “I am not angry at all (at the doctor). It happens. I can’t go into details about it. There was a complication with the shot. No one is perfect. It happens. The doctor, I know is a good man, it was unfortunate.”

Lynn reiterated what he said Monday that when Taylor is 100 percent “he is our guy.”

NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported Wednesday, however, that Herbert could remain in the starting role for weeks — if not for good — because Taylor has been advised by coaches not to play until he feels “100 percent,” per a team source.

Wyche added, per the source, that the recovery from an accidental punctured lung Taylor sustained might not be the long-term health concern. Taylor sustained two broken ribs on the Chargers’ opening drive in Week 1 that need time to heal. No one, including Taylor, knew that he suffered broken ribs after taking a hit early in the season-opening victory over the Bengals, per Wyche, but when Taylor’s rib pain failed to subside the in middle of last week he had an MRI that revealed fractures. He tried to push through, but then came the injection mishap pregame that led to Taylor being hospitalized because of chest discomfort.

Herbert completed 22 of 33 passes for 311 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his impressive debut, nearly leading the Chargers to an upset win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.