Will Justin Herbert's Hand Injury Allow Him to Play Against Eagles on Monday Night?

Dec 03, 2025 at 10:55 AM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

Welcome back to the Chargers Mailbag!

We'll run a Mailbag each week during the regular season. Send in submissions for the Mailbag on Twitter @EricLSmith or by email at eric.smith@chargers.nfl.com.

Off we go...

Who would you start at quarterback if YOU were the coach? A healthy Trey Lance? Or an injured Justin Herbert? Which scenario has more pros than cons? (Gary via email)

Me? I'm merely an Editorial Director. (I'm kidding).

It's a valid question from Gary, and one I'm sure many Chargers fans have on their minds ahead of Monday night.

A quick recap: Justin Herbert was injured in Sunday's win over the Raiders when he suffered a fractured bone in his left, non-throwing hand.

He missed eight plays as Trey Lance came in for Herbert in relief, but the Chargers franchise quarterback re-entered the game in the second quarter and played the rest of the way.

Herbert then underwent successful surgery Monday and his current status is that he's day-to-day ahead of Week 14 against the Eagles in primetime.

For what it's worth, Herbert said postgame Sunday that he planned on playing Monday night against the Eagles.

And I think that will be the case based on a few factors.

The first is that it's obviously safe enough for Herbert to play. He'll obviously have a cast, glove or some other device on his hand to protect himself, but he will play as long as he gets clearance from the medical staff.

The Chargers had to adjust on the fly Sunday but perhaps, given ample time ahead of Monday night, they can fit Herbert with a secure and sturdy device that is even safer than what he wore against the Raiders.

Next is the fact that Herbert has played through a myriad of injuries, whether it was fractured rib cartilage and a shoulder injury in 2022, a broken finger in 2023 and a severe high ankle sprain in 2024.

Herbert is as tough as they come, and Sunday was the latest example of that.

Finally, the Chargers are in the middle of a playoff push with five games left. Good luck getting Herbert to sit out meaningful December games if he's cleared to play.

So, while I'd start Herbert and expect the Chargers to do the same, give credit to Lance for playing well in a tough situation.

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that he wants to get Lance more practice reps this week, particularly in goal line situations, given the fact that Herbert was unable to go under center Sunday.

If Herbert is limited again there Monday (and going forward), perhaps the Bolts craft a goal line and short-yardage package for Lance against the Eagles.

Either way, unless something changes this week in practice, I expect to see No. 10 out there in primetime against the defending Super Bowl champions.

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Will we see the Chargers lean heavily on the run to close out the season? It seems like it would be malpractice not to have the offense run through Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal, especially with Herbert nursing an injury. (via Twitter)

Maybe!

It mostly depends on how well Herbert is able to operate the offense with his injury ... and when Hampton returns to the active roster.

The Chargers are always going to put the ball in Herbert's hands more often than not. He's the best player on the roster and is among the NFL's best quarterbacks.

So far through the 2025 season, the Chargers rank 12th in pass rate at 58.16 percent.

Could that change once Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal are available together? Definitely.

Harbaugh, at his core, wants his team to be a tough and physical team that can run the ball against anyone, especially in the latter months of the season.

If the Bolts can roll out a 1-2 punch of Hampton and Vidal — plus still have Herbert's ability to make any throw on the field — that could be a dangerous combination against opposing defenses down the stretch.

Hampton, by the way, was a limited participant in three practices last week but was not added to the roster ahead of Week 13.

Harbaugh said Monday that the upcoming week of practice will determine if the rookie running back suits up against the Eagles.

"We opened his window and we certainly wouldn't have done that — his 21-day window — if he wasn't close. Again, feel like he's been on track and let the week play out," Harbaugh said.