Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had successful surgery Monday to repair a fractured bone in his left non-throwing hand, sustained during the team's Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers announced Herbert is considered day-to-day, with his status for the Week 14 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles to be determined later in the week. Herbert intends to play despite the injury.
Justin Herbert's injury occurred during the Chargers' 31-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, where he completed 15 of 20 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, missing only a few snaps. The fracture in his left hand adds to the mounting injuries for the 8-4 Chargers, who currently hold the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Through 12 games this season, Herbert has completed 66.9% of his passes for 2,842 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The team stated that Herbert underwent surgery in Los Angeles to stabilize the fracture, and his return to play is day-to-day. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Herbert is focused on suiting up for the Monday, December 8, game against the Eagles. This determination aligns with precedents set by other quarterbacks, such as Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, who played through a fractured left hand in 2024, and Aaron Rodgers, who managed multiple fractures in his left wrist during a recent game.
Herbert has a history of resilience with hand injuries; he played with a broken middle finger on his left hand in 2023 before a right index finger fracture ended his season. Since becoming the starter in 2020, the Chargers are 1-4 in games he has missed due to injury, but he has not sat out any contests under head coach Jim Harbaugh in 2024.
The Chargers' playoff positioning remains strong, but Herbert's availability will be crucial as they navigate a competitive AFC wild-card race.