Justin Herbert is officially on the mend. The Chargers quarterback underwent surgery Monday to repair a fracture in his left hand - an injury he suffered during Sunday’s 31-14 win over the Raiders. The team confirmed the procedure and called Herbert’s return “day-to-day,” leaving his status for next Monday night’s game against the Eagles still up in the air.
The injury occurred early in the game, when Herbert took a hard hit in the first quarter and came up favoring his non-throwing hand. He briefly exited but returned to finish the game, throwing for 151 yards and two touchdowns - a gutsy performance that helped seal a much-needed win for Los Angeles.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said postgame that once the fracture was stabilized, the expectation was Herbert would be able to return to action. Now, with a full week - plus the bonus of playing on Monday Night Football - the Chargers are hoping their franchise QB can recover in time to face a tough Philadelphia defense.
But if Herbert can’t go, all eyes will turn to Trey Lance. The former top-three pick has been waiting in the wings, and this could be his chance to show what he can do in a high-stakes primetime matchup. While Lance hasn’t seen much game action this season, the coaching staff has kept him ready, and the offense would likely lean more heavily on the run game and short passing concepts if he gets the nod.
For now, the Chargers are keeping things close to the vest, monitoring Herbert’s progress throughout the week. The good news?
It’s his non-throwing hand. The bad news?
A hand fracture - even on the off-hand - can still impact ball handling, snaps under center, and overall comfort in the pocket.
This is a pivotal stretch for the Chargers, who are trying to stay in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Herbert’s availability could be the difference between keeping momentum or facing another uphill climb. Stay tuned - this one’s going to come down to the wire.