Justin Herbert Guts Out Gritty Win Over Eagles Just One Week After Surgery
There are tough quarterbacks, and then there’s Justin Herbert. Just seven days removed from surgery on his non-throwing hand, the Chargers’ signal-caller didn’t just suit up-he led his team to a gutsy 22-19 overtime win over the Eagles at SoFi Stadium.
Herbert, still just 27, wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent, and it showed at times. His passing numbers-11-of-25 for 138 yards, one touchdown, and one interception-weren’t the stuff of highlight reels.
One week after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, Justin Herbert led his team in rushing and put up 205 total yards in a Monday night win over the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/gWIKj29njW
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 9, 2025
He was under siege all night, taking seven sacks behind a banged-up offensive line. But what stood out wasn’t the stat sheet-it was the sheer will to compete.
With his left hand still healing, Herbert took matters into his own legs, rushing 10 times for a team-high 66 yards. That’s not a misprint: the quarterback led the Chargers in rushing, showing off both his mobility and his toughness. Whether it was scrambling away from pressure or lowering his shoulder to pick up a key first down, Herbert looked like a man determined to drag his team across the finish line-cast and all.
NFL insider Diana Russini summed it up well: “One week after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, Justin Herbert led his team in rushing and put up 205 total yards in a Monday night win over the Eagles.”
It wasn’t a flawless performance-far from it. But it was the kind of game that earns respect in locker rooms and across the league.
Herbert’s lone touchdown came early, a four-yard strike to Omarion Hampton in the first quarter. After that, it was a grind.
The Eagles’ pass rush dialed up the pressure, forcing errant throws and keeping the Chargers’ offense in check for much of the night.
Still, when it mattered most, Herbert made enough plays to get the win. And in a league where style points don’t count in December, that’s what matters.
Fans took notice, too. Social media lit up with reactions praising Herbert’s toughness and leadership.
“Justin Herbert with one hand is better than Jalen Hurts with two,” one fan posted.
“Justin Herbert continues to impress this season! His arm strength and decision-making are unmatched. Can’t wait to see what he does next with the Chargers,” wrote another.
There was even a movie reference thrown in for good measure, as one fan channeled Happy Gilmore’s Chubbs Peterson to celebrate Herbert’s one-handed effort.
And for those keeping score, Herbert is now 6-3 in head-to-head matchups against a who's-who of young quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, and Tua Tagovailoa. Not bad company to be beating consistently.
Impressive job out there by Justin Herbert tonight, considering that hand of his. pic.twitter.com/6K4uL9JZbw
— James (@flashfire34) December 9, 2025
The win moves the Chargers to 9-4 on the season, with five wins in their last six games. They’re heating up at the right time, and with Herbert showing this level of grit, it’s clear this team is far from done.
No, it wasn’t his cleanest game. But it might be one of his most memorable.
Sometimes, greatness isn’t about numbers-it’s about showing up when your team needs you most. And on Monday night, that’s exactly what Justin Herbert did.