As reported earlier this week, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert underwent surgery to address a broken bone in his left (non-throwing) hand. Per Nick Shook of NFL.com, while the 27-year-old passer is still considered day-to-day at the moment, the team — specifically head coach Jim Harbaugh — is “optimistic” that Herbert will be the one under center to start the game on Monday night. 
According to Omar Ruiz of NFL Network, Herbert described the surgery, telling reporters that a plate and a few screws were put into his hand during the procedure. The current plan is just to prepare as if he’s starting against the Eagles this week, though an eye will be kept on his hand to determine if the swelling from the surgery has subsided enough for him to play. In Week 13, he wore a glove on his left hand made to stabilize the injury, and a similar technique could be utilized again in order to stabilize his healing hand.
While Harbaugh is optimistic, and Herbert is preparing like he’s starting, Harbaugh is not depending solely on Herbert. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, backup quarterback Trey Lance is expected to get some run with the first-team offense this week, in case the team feels Herbert’s hand won’t allow him to “function in enough basic ways or protect himself if he falls.” Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, started four games in his first two years in San Francisco but has only logged one start in the past three seasons combined. If Herbert’s hand hinders him in the ways quoted above, though, Lance would be tapped as the starter.
Lance took all of the first-team reps in today’s practice, with Herbert not practicing in the traditional sense and, instead, just being present on the field through the first sessions of practice. Even if Herbert’s hand is doing well enough for him to start, Lance’s work with the first team could still be handy for certain situations.
Herbert’s hand may prevent him from being literally under center since it could be difficult for him to receive snaps between the center’s legs with his hand injury. Herbert can try to stay in shotgun formations as much as possible, but in short yardage or goal line situations, the team may rely on Lance, whose hand would be less at risk of injury in a scrum.
The news on the matter is still not definitive, but at least we now know what to keep an eye on in the days to come. As long as Herbert and Co. can get the swelling down over the next five days, he should return as the starter. In the meantime, Lance will continue preparing for roles both big and small.
I really think for safety sake he should miss Monday night.
Yeah, no biases of course.
But in all seriousness, I’ve thought it wiser to protect the long term health of a franchise starter over the outcome of one game, no matter how impactful that game could…except maybe once you get to the Conference Championship stage. It’s an important game, but it’s just one loss if they don’t win. If Herbert messes up his hand, and is limited for the remaining games, or long term in his career, it wouldn’t be worth the one loss in a single season.
Absolutely no bias at all. I don’t even know who chargers play. Honest
Some team that Bradley Cooper hates, I think.
The Uber Eats marketing team?
There are switch hitters in baseball so I was just wondering if there has ever been an ambidextrous QB at either the college level or pro?
His hand is not the throwing hand,anyways it’s going to be in a soft cast it won’t affect him.
Not throwing, no, but he’s got to do more than throw. Taking snaps under will be harder (other than injury, fumbling could occur), tucking the ball away could be harder, or a bad fall could be more impactful.
Herbert is more comfortable in the gun (his transition to under center comfortability is actually nothing short of remarkable for a player never worked there at all in college), but you do need to go under center in key situations, depending on the defensive reads or the need for a running start for the back. The Chargers could gameplan around it as much as possible, but they’ll have to use it eventually.
I mean, he could be totally fine playing-wise, and not miss a beat at all. If the injury does take a toll though, I think most of us would, in hindsight, say that it was worth a game just to keep Herbert in one piece. I don’t doubt that he’ll offer good production anyway, I just wonder what we would say if the injury got aggravated.
@Ak185. Yeah the soft cast was a mess, he cant throw it quick, and with that line it’s a must. I say try lance, and run the ball.