The Los Angeles Chargers have officially made the call many around the league expected. With the postseason secured and little to gain in the standings, Justin Herbert will not play Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed the decision, framing it around player health rather than seeding.
“Jim Harbaugh said QB Justin Herbert won’t play Sunday against the Broncos,” Kris Rhim reported. “Said other starters with ‘the most bruises’ and need ‘the most healing’ won’t play.”
The Chargers clinched a playoff berth last week but were eliminated from the AFC West title race after a loss to the Houston Texans. While Los Angeles technically remains alive for the No. 5 seed, the path is narrow and unlikely.
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Why Seeding Took a Back Seat
Currently slotted as the No. 6 seed, the Chargers would need a win over Denver and a Texans loss to the Colts to move up. Houston, however, is fighting for the AFC South title, while Indianapolis has nothing at stake and is expected to start rookie quarterback Riley Leonard.
That reality leaves Los Angeles most likely finishing as either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, making the marginal benefit of pushing starters onto the field far outweighed by the risk.
Denver’s elite pass rush further complicates matters. For a Chargers team already battered up front, exposing Herbert behind a shuffled offensive line carried significant downside.
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Herbert’s Season of Punishment
Few quarterbacks have taken more punishment this season than Herbert, largely due to offensive line instability.
Pressure and Protection Stats
- Sacks Taken: 54 (3rd most in the NFL)
- Only Geno Smith and Cam Ward (55 each) have been sacked more times.
- Quarterback Hits: 75 (Tied for most in the league)
- Tied with Jared Goff for the highest total of QB hits.
- Total Pressures Faced: 290 (Most in the NFL)
- Leads the league by a wide margin, ahead of Drake Maye (261).
- Pressure Rate: 47.2% (3rd highest)
- Trails only Shedeur Sanders (52.9%) and Justin Fields (47.9%).
- Total Dropbacks: 615 (3rd most)
- Only Dak Prescott (646) and Bo Nix (637) have more dropbacks this season.
The Chargers have fielded a fully intact offensive line for just seven weeks this season, using four or fewer starters in nine games. That inconsistency directly impacted Herbert’s performance, particularly in high-pressure outings.
Weeks with elevated pressure counts coincided with noticeable efficiency drops, including a season-low 46.2% completion rate in Week 14.
Lessons From the Past
The decision also echoes a painful memory for the franchise. In Week 18 of the 2022 season, former head coach Brandon Staley played his starters despite having seeding locked up. Wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a fractured back and missed the playoff game the following week.
Harbaugh appears determined not to repeat that mistake.
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The Bigger Picture
While some argue rest can lead to rust, Harbaugh is betting on recovery over rhythm. Herbert, dealing with a lingering hand injury and the cumulative toll of a long season, fits the profile of a player who needs healing most.
With the playoffs looming, the Chargers are prioritizing availability over optics — and making sure their franchise quarterback is as healthy as possible when the games truly matter.