“Rough day at the office”: ESPN’s Laura Rutledge downplays Justin Herbert's primetime interview fiasco

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers - Source: Imagn
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Chargers - Source: Imagn

Following the Los Angeles Chargers' gritty 22-19 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, Justin Herbert shared an awkward moment with ESPN's sideline reporter Laura Rutledge.

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As he bounced around the field hunting for teammates to celebrate with, he bumped into Rutledge, who tried to flag him down for an interview. He waved her off and kept moving, forcing her to chase after him. Herbert eventually paused and spoke with Rutledge briefly before moving on.

Justin Herbert received plenty of backlash after the clip was posted on social media, but Rutledge downplayed the incident on Tuesday.

“Rough day at the office 🤣🤣 let’s all have a good laugh and move on!” she wrote on X.
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Barstool Sports host Kayce Smith had previously taken a jab at Herbert while commending the way in which Rutledge handled the moment.

“Hey bro, you get paid $262 million to play football. When the prime time broadcast wants an interview, you stand there like EVERYBODY ELSE does and do the interview. Grow up. Kudos, Laura Rutledge. Real pro,” Smith wrote on X.
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Justin Herbert shows grit against the Eagles after hand surgery

Despite undergoing hand surgery a week ago, Justin Herbert returned to the field and led his team to a narrow victory against the Eagles on Monday night. The quarterback rushed for 66 yards on 10 carries, the third-most in his NFL career.

"There are so many guys in that locker room that are fighting through so many different injuries and things worse than what I'm going through," Herbert said. "So, it's the least I can do to show up and give my best effort for them."
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Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh also spoke about Herbert's toughness after the game in Inglewood. The quarterback scrambled for three first downs, taking his season's tally to 18: the fourth most by a player in his position.

"It's inspiring," Harbaugh said. "I wish I could just throw my body on the line. I wish I could take those hits for 'em."

Herbert broke a bone in his left hand early in last week’s game when Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn delivered a hit on a scramble, driving his helmet straight into his hand.

LA Chargers Nation! Check out the latest Chargers Schedule and dive into the Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Farouk Yusuf
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