Herbert's fractured hand requires surgery. Will he miss crucial games, or can he defy expectations to lead the Chargers? The clock is ticking.
The Los Angeles Chargers suffered a loss despite their 31-14 win over AFC West rivals Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, as star quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a hand injury that is now reported to be a fractured left hand, his non-throwing one. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, he is set to undergo surgery tomorrow on the hand.
Per reports, it’s unclear if he will miss anytime, but that prognosis should be revealed after he actually has the surgery tomorrow. The next opponent on the schedule is the Philadelphia Eagles, which is a tough opponent to not have Herbert for. In his place, backup quarterback Trey Lance would presumably get the start against a formidable Eagles’ defensive front.
Here is the full story from Chargers Roundtable writer Nick Crain on the breaking news and prognosis for Herbert that will be updated as more information comes out.
Herbert suffered the injury in the first half on a touchdown drive and was replaced by Lance while he went to the locker room to be evaluated by trainers. He did return to play after putting some sort of protective glove on his left hand and notably played mostly out of shotgun after his return. The team was still able to operate. Lance completed one pass for nine yards. Herbert finished 15-of-20 for 151 yards and two touchdowns to one interception.
While he was able to endure the game with the heavy glove on, he may not be able to wear that same thing post-surgery, and it seems severe enough to get immediate surgery. The good news is that the Chargers won’t have to play Philadelphia until Monday Night, giving a little extra time for Herbert’s return.