Chargers’ Bozeman defends Herbert after Saints’ illegal play

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After drawing an unnecessary roughness call for defending quarterback Justin Herbert following a hit in Sunday’s 26-8 win over the New Orleans Saints, center Bradley Bozeman was celebrated by teammates and awarded a game ball by coach Jim Harbaugh.

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd twisted Herbert’s right ankle and pulled down the QB long after he had thrown the ball to running back J.K. Dobbins in the second quarter. Bozeman, the only lineman who saw the interaction, sprinted, pushed Shepherd off of Herbert, and continued pushing Shepherd into the ground before Herbert and an official separated them.

Bozeman and Shepherd were both flagged for unnecessary roughness, the first such call 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 that was in my position would’ve done the same thing.”

Herbert has been playing through a high right ankle sprain that he suffered in a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers.

“Everybody knows Justin’s got a bad ankle,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t blame [Bozeman]. I don’t encourage it at all, but I don’t blame him.”

Herbert ended up pulling Bozeman off of Shepherd with the help of an official. Bozeman said he was welcomed by teammates and coaches on the sideline, who also saw Shepherd’s action as dirty.

“That’s the type of center you want on your team,” Herbert said. “He’ll give everything for this team and I appreciated what he did. I tried to pull him off so he didn’t get any penalties called, but to have a guy like that defending you, there’s no better feeling.”

After the game, Harbaugh announced game balls for each player on the team. Many players began to chant for Bozeman before Harbaugh finally yelled “Boze” and awarded him one, which received the loudest ovation of any in the locker room.

“You have your gentle-giant side and then when you’ve got to to flip the switch, you flip the switch,” said the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Bozeman, “and that kind of stuff is unacceptable. To do that to our premier quarterback is unacceptable.”