downside to the Chargers’ third victory in five games this season, though, and plenty of postgame questions about the health of Harbaugh and a number of key players who suffered or aggravated injuries during Sunday’s game. Harbaugh said he would visit a cardiologist today.

Right guard Trey Pipkins III was sidelined by a shoulder injury in the first half. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey suffered a head injury, returned to the game, left again and returned again. Tight end Hayden Hurst injured his groin. Defensive back Deane Leonard aggravated a hamstring injury. Cornerback Kristian Fulton was sidelined in the second half by a hamstring injury.

The Chargers had sufficient depth to dispatch the Broncos, however.

As for Harbaugh, he said this was his third episode of atrial flutter, a heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly. He said he also had it in 1999 and 2012, undergoing procedures each time to ease the condition. He said he would get checked out again to determine the next steps.

“Everything turned out to be OK,” Harbaugh said of retreating first to the blue injury tent behind the Chargers’ bench and then to the locker room only a few minutes into the game to undergo an EKG. “I got into an episode with it today and the doctors checked me out and it got back into normal rhythm.”

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter assumed the head coaching duties until Harbaugh was cleared to return to the sideline. Many, if not most, of the Chargers didn’t realize that Harbaugh was absent for a good chunk of the first quarter until they were told about it by reporters after the game.

“Honestly, they kept it under wraps pretty good,” Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox said. “We had no idea what happened until people told us here and there. Obviously, we’re all praying for him and hoping everything went well. Fortunately, he’s back on the sideline. He’s tough and he loves football.”

Quarterback Justin Herbert threw for a season-high 184 yards in the first half alone, and that wasn’t the most unusual development in an eventful two quarters that almost defied description. The Chargers built what looked like a commanding 20-0 lead despite a string of injuries.

Herbert picked apart the Broncos’ secondary after standout cornerback Pat Surtain II suffered a concussion on the Chargers’ first offensive play, an incomplete pass to McConkey. He completed 18 of his first 26 passes and hit rookie running back Kimani Vidal for a 38-yard touchdown.

By game’s end, Herbert completed 21 of 34 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown, showing a mobility unseen since he sprained his right ankle during the third quarter of the Chargers’ victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and aggravated it during their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.

Herbert’s previous high this season was 179 yards in the Chargers’ 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4.

Asked if it was fair to say his ankle was “trending in the right direction,” Herbert said, “It is. That’s a good point, and as long as we’re doing that, we’re going to keep adding to our offense (with plays that showcase his newfound mobility). Naked boot(legs). Breaking the pocket. I think it’ll help us as a unit.”

J.K. Dobbins scored on a 4-yard run and Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 20, 33 and 46 yards as the Chargers played keepaway with the ball through three quarters. They led in time of possession by an astounding 21:13 to 8:47 by halftime. They had 16 first downs to three for the Broncos.

The Chargers outgained the Broncos 246-60 in the opening half, and they blanked the Broncos until Bo Nix completed touchdown passes of 2 yards to Troy Franklin with 10:06 remaining in the game and to Courtland Sutton with 5:22 left. The Broncos’ two-point conversion try failed after Sutton’s diving catch.

Wil Lutz’s 40-yard field goal made it 23-16 with 59 seconds to go.