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Chargers coach Anthony Lynn announces Justin Herbert will be starting QB for rest of 2020 season

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn announced on Thursday that rookie Justin Herbert will be the team’s starting quarterback for the rest of 2020, replacing Tyrod Taylor.

Herbert has been starting ever since a Chargers team doctor accidentally punctured Taylor’s lung while administering a shot of pain medication. Taylor had to go to the hospital to deal with a collapsed lung while Herbert was tasked with starting the game with just minutes before kickoff.

This move seemed inevitable. Even though the Chargers have lost all three of Herbert’s starts, he’s looked like a future star. The Chargers drafted Herbert sixth overall in the 2020 draft, and it wasn’t because they wanted him to back up Taylor for his entire career. Herbert starting was obviously the long-term plan, but Lynn and the Chargers obviously didn’t think it would happen so soon.

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 04: Justin Herbert (10) of the Chargers looks to throw a pass to his left side during the regular season game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 04, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Justin Herbert made his first start for the Chargers with just a few minutes notice, but. now he's their starting QB for the rest of the 2020 season. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

More bad luck for Tyrod Taylor

This was a no-win situation for Lynn, who had to choose between standing behind the starter who got injured through no fault of his own, or the rookie who has proven himself on the field. After Taylor got hurt, Lynn repeatedly said that he would still be the starter after he had healed. However, Herbert’s on-field performance continued to make that an issue, and Lynn decided to rip the bandaid off and have a difficult conversation with Taylor.

Taylor’s had some bad luck in the NFL. He gets his first chance to consistently start since he was with the Buffalo Bills in 2017, and it ends because a team doctor accidentally punctured his lung. That’s only the latest reason Taylor has lost a starting job.

Taylor still isn’t back up to 100 percent, but it seems like he’s close. Even if he is healthy and active on Monday when the Chargers face the New Orleans Saints, he’ll be backing up his former backup.

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