Justin Herbert set to get some help as Chargers activate $27,637,503 TE for TNF vs Broncos

Justin Herbert stands as the final gatekeeper between the Denver Broncos and their first playoff appearance since 2015. With a win, Denver will clinch the playoffs. However, while the Chargers are banged up on offense coming into the game, they have some good news on this front.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport on Twitter/X, Justin Herbert will have a returning target to throw at in the primetime showdown. Tight end Hayden Hurst might return from the injured reserve just in time for the game, Rapoport reported on Thursday.

Hurst had been dealing with a hip injury which appears to have healed. The tight end has practiced fully all week, albeit in a short one.

Hurst's return comes at a seemingly perfect time as starting tight end Will Dissly is slated to miss the game due to a shoulder injury, per ESPN. His best season in the last few years came with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 when he recorded 52 catches for 414 yards and two touchdowns.

This year, Hurst has secured seven catches for 65 yards.

Exploring Hayden Hurst's career earnings before landing with Justin Herbert

Hayden Hurst Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers - Source: Imagn

The Chargers tight end is still relatively new to the team. After spending two years with the Ravens, two years with the Atlanta Falcons, one year with the Bengals and a year with the Panthers, Hurst is working in his first year with the Chargers.

The tight end is on a one-year prove-it deal worth $1.125 million. However, he has made a hefty chunk of change in his time in the league.

Since 2018, he has earned $27,637,503. Much of the earnings came from his deal with the Carolina Panthers, which included $13 million in guarantees per Over the Cap. That was despite playing just one season for the team.

The deal was originally slated to be three years but was terminated after just one. Now, Hurst is aiming to light up the night on Thursday Night Football against a rival.

If he can do so, it may give him a leg up in the negotiations with the Chargers or another team after the 2024 season. There is a lot of pressure on Justin Herbert's tight end to deliver against a defensive unit that has been overwhelmingly stout in most matchups this season.

Any type of breakout game would be doubly impressive for Hurst. Will he be able to rise to the occasion so quickly after getting off the injured reserve?