Herbert among Chargers to play late in meaningless game

By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley elected to keep playing his starters against the Broncos even though by the time the game began, it was clear the game meant nothing. Even after receiver Mike Williams left with a back injury in the second quarter, many of Chargers’ stars stayed in the lineup, including quarterback Justin Herbert. Not until the fourth quarter of what turned out to be a 31-28 loss to Denver did Staley have all of them on the bench to eliminate the risk of another injury for a team that was locked in to play the wild-card round in Jacksonville before its game began.