Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had surgery on Monday to repair a fractured left hand. The injury occurred on the first quarter of his most recent game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He took a major shot from Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn no less when he was forced to scramble. Following the incident, Herbert’s left hand was placed in a hard cast and glove, leading to concerns about his availability for upcoming games.
Even after sustaining the injury, Herbert showed unbelievable grit. He missed nine plays before returning to lead his team, ultimately throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Quentin Johnston. The Chargers changed their offensive identity. They used shotgun and pistol formations exclusively for the remainder of the game while Herbert was in.
As for Herbert himself, the Chargers have him labeled as day-to-day. His availability for a potential Week 14 home match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles remains a question mark. University of Michigan football Coach Jim Harbaugh said on a radio show this morning that a decision on Herbert’s availability would come later this week.
“That’ll be a point of emphasis this week,” – Coach Jim Harbaugh
He notes that Herbert will be prepared, just like he would be if he was facing the Eagles. This is an important matchup for the Chargers as they hope to build on positive momentum in their 2023 season.
Herbert’s injury evokes some concern given that it is a recurrence of an issue he faced two seasons ago. He broke the middle finger on his left hand in a game against the Raiders. Typically, Herbert takes all of the team’s first-team reps, and his presence is vital for the Chargers’ offensive strategy.
With Herbert’s injury, Coach Harbaugh declared that backup quarterback Trey Lance would be seeing an expanded role with more practice time with the starters. In particular, he’ll hone in on specialized packages for under-center goal-line scenarios.
When asked about Herbert’s impressive ability to perform at a professional level while hiding pain, Harbaugh called attention to Herbert’s mental fortitude over this tough stretch.
“There’s never any grimace or flinch,” – Coach Jim Harbaugh
The Chargers are turning their attention to getting Herbert healthy heading into their biggest game yet against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Given Herbert’s previous experience with similar injuries, both the coaching staff and fans remain hopeful for a swift recovery and a strong performance against the Eagles.
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