For Justin Herbert’s Health, it is Time to Shut Him Down

There comes a point in a season when an organization needs to look at the bigger picture rather than continue putting its most valuable player in harm’s way. For the Los Angeles Chargers, that time has arrived. After Sunday’s 44-22 loss to the Houston Texans, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify continuing to put Justin Herbert on the field.

The Chargers are now 0-8 and the only winless team in the NFL. Their season has been a disaster, and there isn’t much reason to believe things are going to turn around anytime soon. Meanwhile, Herbert continues to take an unbelievable amount of punishment behind an offensive line that simply cannot protect him.

Sunday was another example of just how bad things have gotten. Herbert was sacked eight times against Houston, a career high. He finished the afternoon completing 13 of 23 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and one interception. To make matters worse, he suffered an injury to the middle finger on his non-throwing hand and was eventually removed from the game. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said afterward that the injury could be a fracture and that further testing would be needed.

Herbert reportedly wanted to remain in the game, but Harbaugh made the decision to keep him on the sideline. That was the right call, and it needs to become the approach moving forward.

The reality is that there is nothing left to prove this season. Herbert has already shown what kind of quarterback he is and how much he means to this franchise. Continuing to put him behind an offensive line that is allowing defenders to reach him at an alarming rate accomplishes very little. The Chargers have dealt with injuries throughout their offensive line, including losing key pieces, but that doesn’t change the fact that Herbert is taking far too many hits.

There is also the bigger concern of Herbert’s long-term health. He previously suffered a hand injury that required surgery during the 2025 season. Now, he is dealing with another hand injury while playing behind a group that has struggled to give him even a reasonable amount of protection. At some point, the organization needs to recognize that the risk simply isn’t worth it.

With nine games remaining, the Chargers should seriously consider shutting Herbert down for the rest of the season. Give him the time to recover, get healthy and prepare for what should be a much more important 2027 season. There is no reason to risk a more serious injury just to potentially win a couple of games in a season that has already gone off the rails.

This isn’t about giving up on Herbert or questioning his toughness. If anything, it is about protecting a player who has consistently put his body on the line for this organization. Herbert is the franchise quarterback and should be treated as such.

The Chargers have plenty of problems to address, and protecting their quarterback needs to be near the top of that list. The 2026 season is essentially lost. It is time to stop putting Herbert in unnecessary danger and start thinking about his future.