Chargers Will Rest Justin Herbert for Finale With AFC West No Longer in Reach

The AFC West and AFC playoff picture got a bit clearer at the top with the Los Angeles Chargers’ loss to the Houston Texans. The Denver Broncos clinched the AFC West title with that loss, as the Chargers would have needed to win out in order to take the division. That would’ve included their Week 18 finale against the Broncos. Instead, Denver will look to now take the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over Los Angeles. The only thing that can change for the Chargers is their playoff seeding.

That means as high as the fifth seed, and as low as the seventh seed. Either way, they don’t have a path to home field advantage. The final spot in the AFC is the toughest path, but is the difference between the fifth and the seventh enough to risk injuries to starters? The Chargers don’t seem to think so. As reported by Kris Rhim of ESPN, Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that they will rest Herbert in the regular season finale.

Here is the full story from Chargers Roundtable writer John Gennaro on why that strategy is the best path for the postseason.

Backup Trey Lance will start in his place, and the Chargers will elevate DJ Uiagalelei off the practice squad for the first time this season as the team’s backup. Herbert has been battling a fractured left hand that he’s been playing through since Week 13. In addition, Harbaugh indicated that he might not be the only starter resting.

"Winning and health, being healthy, those are our two objectives," Harbaugh said. "And guys that we think -- the doctors, the trainers, myself, organization -- that have the most bruises and need that time the most, we've decided that's the direction we're going."

Not only that, but Los Angeles could end up facing the Broncos again in the playoffs. Will they want to give them any more intel than they already have in a game that only impacts their seeding from fifth to seventh? Harbaugh doesn’t see the advantage there.