Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a broken bone in his left hand on Sunday and will undergo surgery on Monday, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh announced after a 31-14 win over the Raiders.
"He had a break in the back of the hand. He's going to have a procedure done [Monday] on it," Harbaugh said.
Both Harbaugh and Herbert said it's unclear of the quarterback will miss any time going forward. The Chargers next game is a Week 14 primetime date with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Herbert said both he and the Chargers medical staff are hopeful that he won't have to miss any games.
"I'm treating it as if I'm playing on Monday," Herbert said. "I think they were very hopeful for that. I think that's something that we'll see [Monday] and we'll get a feel for. I think they were very hopeful so that's always a good thing."
Harbaugh said: "We'll see where the week takes us."
The Chargers Head Coach later added: "He's as tough as they come. Taped it up, glove and played a great game."
Trey Lance led the Chargers next offensive series but Herbert returned to the game a few minutes into the second quarter and promptly threw a 10-yard pass to Keenan Allen to move the chains on third down.
"They just put a hard cast on it, put a glove around it. I think that was basically it," Herbert said about how he returned to the game.
Herbert stayed in for the rest of the game but he did not line up under center, instead staying in shotgun and pistol formations to avoid any snaps near the line of scrimmage.
Herbert said postgame that Lance was ready to come in if the Bolts got into possible goal line formations.
"It was more so just about ball security and understanding if we don't have to go under center, there's no need for it," Herbert said. "We were ready in four minute if we were, if we were going to go in goal line or anything like that Trey was ready to go. I think it's just something we'll monitor as the week goes on."
Harbaugh added: "Getting under center, felt that would be difficult. We're operating exclusively out of the shotgun."
Herbert said the most difficult part of playing with the cast was holding onto the ball.
"Ball security is at a paramount. I think I did a good enough job of that today in the pocket just giving the ball to the running backs. It's just stuff to work on," Herbert said.
With five games left, the Chargers sit at 8-4 and occupy the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Herbert has played through injuries before, including a broken finger on his left hand during the 2023 season.
"I think in terms of experience, I've gone through similar things," Herbert said. "I think that will be helpful. At the end of the day just have to go out there and make sure everything is good, you're comfortable.
"As long as the trainers and doctors are feeling that it's safe to return to play, I trust those guys completely," Herbert added.
