The Chargers applaud Bradley Bozeman's reaction to the Saints' illegal hit

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After center Bradley Bozeman suffered unnecessary hardship following an illegal hit on Los Angeles Chargers defensive quarterback Justin Herbert in Sunday's 26-8 win over the New Orleans Saints, he was celebrated by his teammates and was awarded a game ball by coach Jim Harbaugh.

Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd twisted Herbert's right ankle and dragged the QB to the ground long after he threw the ball to running back JK Dobbins in the second quarter. Bozeman, the only Chargers lineman to see the interaction, sprinted and pushed Shepherd away from Herbert, then pushed Shepherd further to the ground before Herbert and an official separated them.

Bozeman and Shepherd were both charged with unnecessary roughness, the first such charge of Bozeman's career.

“It was probably one of the dirtier plays I’ve ever seen,” Bozeman said.

“You protect your quarterback no matter what. And I think any of our offensive linemen at my position would have done the same thing.”

Herbert is dealing with a right upper ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers.

“Everyone knows Justin has a bad ankle,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t blame (Bozeman). I don’t encourage it at all, but I don’t blame him.”

Herbert eventually pulled Bozeman away from Shepherd with the help of an officer.

Bozeman said he was later greeted on the sideline by teammates and coaches who also viewed Shepherd's action as dirty.

“That’s the type of center you want on your team,” Herbert said. “He will give everything for this team and I appreciate what he has done. I tried to take him off so he wouldn't get a penalty, but having a guy like that defending you doesn't make you feel better.”

After the game, Harbaugh announced the game balls for each player on the team. Many players began chanting for Bozeman before Harbaugh finally shouted “Boze” and gave him one, which received the loudest ovation from everyone in the locker room.

Everyone gets a game ball pic.twitter.com/7aeTqLZkUt

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 28, 2024

“You have your soft, giant side, and then when you have to flip the switch, you flip the switch,” said the 6-foot, 300-pound Bozeman, “and something like that is unacceptable. To do. “This is unacceptable for our premier quarterback.”