Chargers prepared for ‘all scenarios’ if Justin Herbert can’t play Monday
Justin Herbert’s toughness, his stubbornness, his willingness to play despite an injury has been one of the Chargers’ great strengths as their starting quarterback. In just the past three seasons, he’s played with fractured rib cartilage in 2022, a broken finger in ’23 and a sprained ankle in ‘24.
Now, he has a fractured left hand, an injury that required surgery last Monday to insert a plate and screws to stabilize it. Officially, he’s listed as questionable to play in the Chargers’ game Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. Unofficially, no one truly believes he’ll sit out.
If the fracture and the surgery were on his right, throwing hand, then there would be zero question but that Herbert would be done for the season and so would be the Chargers (8-4). But the injury, which happened in last Sunday’s victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, is to his left hand.
“Just getting the swelling down, that’s been the most important thing the last couple of days, and doing everything I can do to get acclimated and get back out there,” said Herbert, who conducted his weekly session with reporters with both hands stuffed inside the pouch of his Chargers hoodie.
No question, Herbert was limited in what he could do after he was hurt on a scramble in the red zone in the first quarter of the Chargers’ 31-14 victory over the Raiders. He didn’t take snaps from under center. He only threw 20 passes total, completing 15 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
“When you think there’s not another rung that he could possibly go, he finds it,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said when questioned about Herbert’s ability to play with injuries. “It’s impressive. You know, the toughest of the tough that have played the game of football, that have played the quarterback position.”
Herbert and Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman had to tweak the game plan mid-game, running out of shotgun or pistol formations and handing the ball or pitching it to running backs Kimani Vidal and Jaret Patterson. Vidal rushed for a career-high 126 yards plus one TD.
So, how will it work Monday against the Super Bowl champions?
“Prepare for everything,” Harbaugh said. “Prepare for all scenarios.”
It could mean backup Trey Lance gets his first start with the Chargers after signing as a free agent during the offseason if Herbert cannot play. It could mean Lance plays in situations like in short yardage or near the goal line in order to protect Herbert’s hand in a quarterback sneak.
Most likely, it means a continuation of the ground game that enabled the Chargers to rout the Raiders in the second half. Running back Omarion Hampton could bolster the Chargers’ backfield if he’s activated after sitting out since fracturing his left ankle Oct. 5 against the Washington Commanders.
Hampton was a full participant in practice Friday and Saturday.
Plus, the Chicago Bears torched the Eagles’ defense for 281 yards on the ground during a 24-15 victory Nov. 28, a fact that cannot be overlooked despite a great deal of handwringing in Philadelphia about a lackluster offense that hasn’t gotten the best out of quarterback Jalen Hurts this season.
Additionally, the Eagles will be without injured defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who had surgery on both of his shoulders last week.
The Chargers aren’t in a position to take anything for granted, though. Harbaugh and Roman know Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio all too well, having crossed paths over their coaching careers. Roman was on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff with Fangio in 2006-07, for instance.
“They have a really good secondary and their defensive line, a lot of people will say, is the strength of their defense, and it’s hard to argue with that,” Roman said. “Our players understand what they’re watching when they look at the tape and really feel like they’re dialed in. It’s a big game. It’s December football.”
Said Roman of Fangio: “I owe Vic a lot. Vic’s the one who got me started in coaching … and learning the defensive side of the ball from one of the brightest minds there is. You look at his track record, who’s been doing it longer than him at such a high level? He’s coached a lot of great units.”
Roman expressed little concern about the Eagles’ ability to shut down Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey in a matchup with Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia’s top cornerback in pass coverage. Roman smiled wryly and said, “As far as the matchup, I like Ladd against anybody, I’ll just be honest with you.”
Presumably, Roman meant with a healthy Herbert throwing the football.