The Los Angeles Chargers will have Justin Herbert under center Monday night, but how he’s deployed — and how well he’s protected — remains very much in question.
Despite suffering a broken bone in his non-throwing left hand during the Chargers’ Week 13 win over the Raiders, Herbert is expected to start against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz reported Monday afternoon that Herbert will play, even after undergoing surgery on Dec. 1 to repair the fracture.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh had expressed early optimism about Herbert’s availability, and the quarterback echoed that mindset himself, approaching the week as if he would play. After three limited practices, the Chargers ultimately listed Herbert as questionable before confirming his expected availability.
“QB Justin Herbert, wearing a padded glove on his surgically repaired left hand, is expected to start tonight vs the #Eagles,” Ruiz shared on X.
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A Limited Look Under Center
While Herbert will be on the field, his typical game mechanics may look different. According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Herbert was not taking traditional under-center snaps during warmups.
“Similar to practice this week, Justin Herbert is not actually taking the under-center snap in warmups,” Popper reported. “Being handed the ball before his drop. We will see how much (if at all) the #Chargers go under center in this game.”
That adjustment could influence play-calling and limit certain aspects of the offense against an aggressive Eagles defense.
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Production and Pressure
Herbert’s importance to Los Angeles can’t be overstated. He’s thrown for 2,842 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, while also setting a career high with 353 rushing yards. Entering Monday, the Chargers hold an estimated 63% chance to make the playoffs, according to Next Gen Stats, in a tightly packed AFC wild-card race.
Still, the underlying concern extends beyond Herbert’s surgically repaired hand. The Chargers’ offensive line has allowed pressure at one of the highest rates in the league, consistently placing their franchise quarterback in harm’s way.
With Herbert already banged up, the risk of aggravating the injury — or suffering another entirely — looms over Monday night. He’ll be out there against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, but whether the Chargers can keep him upright may ultimately decide how much that availability truly matters.