With the regular season officially over for Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers are turning the reins over to backup Trey Lance for their Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Monday that Herbert, who has been playing through a hand injury since Week 13, will sit out to preserve his health for the playoffs.
“The guys that have the most bruises and need the most healing, we’ll pull them back. Justin Herbert would be one,” Harbaugh told reporters, via Chargers.com. “He’s got bruises that need to heal. Winning and health, being healthy, those are our two objectives.”
Harbaugh stressed that the decision has nothing to do with manipulating playoff seeding. “There’s no way to predict. We’re going on the road, first round. All potential teams would be good, and we’ll get ourselves ready for the playoffs,” he said.
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Trey Lance Steps Into the Spotlight
The Chargers will turn to Trey Lance, the former San Francisco 49ers No. 3 overall pick from the 2021 draft, to start under center. Lance, who signed with Los Angeles this past offseason to serve as Herbert’s primary backup, has appeared in three games this season, completing seven of 13 passes for 90 yards. Practice squad quarter back DJ Uiagalelei will serve as the backup.
Lance’s career as a starter has been uneven, with eight starts across three seasons and no passing touchdowns, though he has shown mobility in the rushing game. His most productive outing came in Week 18 of 2024 with Dallas, when he threw for 244 yards. In 2025 with the Chargers, he completed 7-of-13 passes for 90 yards in limited action, with eight rushes for 16 yards.
Despite the lack of touchdown production in his career, the Chargers are giving Lance the chance to gain valuable experience and preserve Herbert’s health ahead of the postseason.
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Protecting Herbert, Preparing for the Playoffs
Herbert’s 2025 campaign was productive, ending with 3,727 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a career-high 498 rushing yards, earning him his second Pro Bowl nod. But it has also been rife with strain caused by a historically injured offensive line.
- Sacks Taken: 54 – 3rd highest in the NFL. Only Geno Smith and Cameron Ward (both with 55) have taken more sacks.
- QB Hits: 75 – Tied for 1st in the league, alongside Jared Goff, for most QB hits.
- Total Pressures: 290 – Leads the NFL in total pressures, significantly ahead of Drake Maye (261).
- Pressure Rate: 47.2% – 3rd highest in the league, behind only Shedeur Sanders (52.9%) and Justin Fields (47.9%).
- Dropbacks: 615 – 3rd most in the NFL. Only Dak Prescott (646) and Bo Nix (637) have more dropbacks.
With the Chargers locked into playoff contention but eliminated from the AFC West race, Harbaugh prioritized long-term health over short-term gain.
“Health and winning. That’s it,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not playing for a specific first-round matchup. We’re getting ourselves ready for whoever we face in the playoffs.”
The Chargers can still finish as high as the fifth seed depending on Week 18 outcomes. A win over Denver won’t affect home-field advantage for the top seed but will help with momentum heading into the postseason.
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Week 18 as a Testing Ground
With Lance starting and Uiagalelei elevated, the Chargers can evaluate depth and give starters time to rest. The offensive line, already hampered by injuries to Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, will need to provide support, but the risk of losing momentum is outweighed by the importance of preserving Herbert.
No matter the outcome, the Chargers are likely to play their first-round playoff game on the road against either Jacksonville or New England. By giving Lance the Week 18 nod, Harbaugh ensures Herbert enters the playoffs healthy and ready to lead the team.
“This is about preparing for the postseason,” Harbaugh emphasized. “Trey gets his chance, the starters rest, and Justin can heal. That’s how we maximize our chances to win when it really counts.”