The Los Angeles Chargers are walking a tightrope heading into Week 14. Justin Herbert wants to play-he’s made that crystal clear-but protecting the franchise quarterback after surgery on his fractured left hand is the top priority. That means Monday night’s offense could look a lot different, even if Herbert is under center-well, actually, not under center at all.
Herbert suffered the injury during the Chargers' win over the Raiders, but true to form, he gutted it out and finished the game. That’s who he is.
But this particular injury changes the calculus. It’s his non-throwing hand, sure, but it’s also the hand that handles the snap, absorbs contact, and stabilizes the ball in traffic.
So, the Chargers are adjusting-and those adjustments start with Trey Lance.
A Mid-Game Pivot: How the Chargers Adapted vs. the Raiders
Once Herbert’s discomfort became clear, the coaching staff didn’t wait. According to reports, the biggest issue wasn’t throwing-it was holding onto the ball. That’s a problem you can’t ignore, especially in tight spaces like the red zone.
The solution? The Chargers scrapped under-center snaps entirely after Herbert’s injury.
Everything shifted to shotgun and pistol formations, where Herbert could keep the ball away from contact and reduce strain on that left hand. But that adjustment came with a twist: Trey Lance was ready to take over for goal-line situations, and he did.
Lance came in for a short stint, completing a nine-yard pass and adding a four-yard run. It wasn’t flashy, but it was functional-and it showed that this wasn’t just a stopgap. It was a preview.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the shift in practice reps, noting that while Herbert typically takes every snap like a machine, that’s changing this week. Lance is now getting those goal-line, under-center reps. The Chargers aren’t just preparing for a worst-case scenario-they’re building a two-quarterback plan by design.
Why Trey Lance Fits the Chargers’ Short-Yardage Needs
Lance’s skill set isn’t just a backup plan-it’s a strategic asset, especially in the red zone. He’s built for contact-heavy situations.
He’s got the frame to absorb hits and the burst to escape them. That’s exactly what you want inside the five-yard line.
Compare that to Herbert, who would now be taking snaps with a surgically repaired hand. Asking him to brace for interior pressure or run a quarterback sneak is a risk the Chargers can’t afford. With the playoff picture tightening, minimizing that risk is more than smart-it’s necessary.
Lance gives them a way to keep the offense aggressive without putting Herbert in harm’s way. His mobility adds a layer to the red-zone playbook that might otherwise be stripped down due to Herbert’s limitations. Instead of scaling back, the Chargers are pivoting forward.
Backup QBs Are No Longer Just Insurance
Harbaugh has long valued physical, adaptable quarterback play, and this situation only reinforces that philosophy. Having a backup like Lance-who can step in without forcing a total schematic overhaul-isn’t just a luxury anymore. It’s part of the modern NFL playbook.
Lance won’t just be holding a clipboard Monday night. He’ll be ready to take meaningful snaps, especially near the goal line. That kind of situational usage is becoming more common across the league, and the Chargers are leaning into it.
What Monday Night Might Look Like
So what should fans expect when the Chargers face the Eagles?
- Herbert will likely start, operating primarily from shotgun and pistol formations to protect his left hand.
- Lance will handle under-center duties, particularly in short-yardage or goal-line scenarios.
- The offense will use Lance’s mobility to give defenses something extra to think about in tight spaces.
- Herbert will be protected from unnecessary contact, especially in situations where a fumble or hit could aggravate the injury.
It’s a delicate balance, but the Chargers have built a plan that threads the needle. They’re not sacrificing their long-term outlook for one game-even one with serious playoff implications. But they’re also not shelving their star quarterback unless they absolutely have to.
Instead, they’re doing what smart teams do: adapting, protecting their most valuable asset, and using every tool available to stay competitive.
Trey Lance isn’t just the backup anymore. He’s part of the offensive blueprint-and come Monday night, that could make all the difference.