Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is scheduled for surgery on Monday to repair a broken bone in his non-throwing hand, but remains hopeful of playing again next week. Herbert played the final three quarters of Sunday's 31-14 victory over the Raiders with a hard cast on his left hand, taking snaps exclusively from the shotgun formation.
“I think it’s one of those things where you just stabilise it and play,” Herbert said. “I’m not the doctor, unfortunately, but they were hopeful, so I think that’s a good thing.” The exact moment of the injury is unclear, though it is believed to have occurred late in the Chargers’ opening drive when Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn tackled Herbert after a short scramble.
Despite the injury, Herbert threw a touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston on the subsequent play before being taken off by trainers. Trey Lance briefly replaced Herbert at the start of the Chargers’ second drive, but after advancing the team past midfield, Herbert returned with a protective glove over his cast. Coach Jim Harbaugh praised his quarterback’s resilience, saying, “He’s as tough as they come. He taped it up, put on a glove and played a great game.”
Herbert finished the game with 2,842 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. The Chargers, now in a playoff position with five games remaining, face a challenging schedule including a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles next Monday. “I’m treating it as if I’m playing Monday,” Herbert affirmed. “I think they were very hopeful for that, so we’ll see.”
