EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said Wednesday he is preparing as if he will play Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Herbert is two days removed from surgery to stabilize a fracture in his non-throwing hand. He suffered the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
“That’s the plan, is to prepare as if I’m going to play,” Herbert said. “See how the next couple days go and do everything I can to be out there for the team.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh echoed a similar sentiment earlier Wednesday. When asked if he is preparing this week for Herbert to be his starter, Harbaugh said, “We’re optimistic that that’s going to be the case.”
Herbert did not practice Wednesday. He spent practice lifting with Ben Herbert, the Chargers’ executive director of player performance. Herbert said he was able to participate in the team’s walkthrough Wednesday morning and has also been in meetings. He said he is wearing a cast on his left hand, and he kept his hands tucked into his sweatshirt pocket for the duration of his session with the media.
“Just protected right now from if I were to fall over or hit it on anything,” Herbert said.
Justin Herbert, hands in pocket. pic.twitter.com/EMxJqKkqjn
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) December 3, 2025
Herbert initially stayed in Sunday’s game after breaking his hand while being tackled on a scramble to the left. On the next play, he threw a touchdown. Herbert then left the game for eight plays to head back to the locker room. He returned with a glove and cast on his left hand, and he played the remainder of the game.
Herbert underwent successful surgery Monday afternoon. He said he had a plate and multiple screws inserted into his hand. Doctors, according to Herbert, were “happy” with how the procedure went.
“As long as it’s stabilized and fixed and the doctors feel comfortable with it, then I think you can move on to just playing and just trying not to focus on it too much,” Herbert said.
Herbert said the key over the coming days will be “getting the swelling down.” He said he got additional treatment after he finished lifting Wednesday. Herbert also mentioned ball handling and pain as two factors in the ultimate decision for Monday.
“There are a lot of things that come with it,” Herbert said.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier Wednesday that Herbert “hasn’t missed a beat.” He said backup Trey Lance, who replaced Herbert for those eight plays Sunday, would take all the first-team reps in practice.
Herbert said he has played in games without taking any practice reps “a few times” in his career. He fractured his rib cartilage in Week 2 of 2022 and played the next week. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2 of last year and played the next week.
“It’s not ideal, and it’s definitely difficult in this league,” Herbert said of not taking practice reps. “But if that’s the case, and if Coach feels like I’ll give the best shot for the team, then I trust his decision.”
If he does play, Herbert expects to wear some sort of “hard layer cast underneath a glove and just enough padding to cover it.”
Herbert broke his left middle finger in Week 4 of 2023 and did not miss a game. He played with a splint on the finger underneath a glove.
Herbert did not take a single snap from under center after he broke his hand in Sunday’s game. He took all his snaps from either shotgun or pistol formations. Herbert said Wednesday that the Chargers developed a heavy under-center game plan heading into the matchup with the Raiders. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman had to mostly scrap that plan and adjust some of the runs to the pistol formation. Herbert commended Roman’s flexibility.
“He’s fluid with it, and I think he understands the situation,” Herbert said of Roman. “Coach Harbaugh and him, they work really well together, so whatever ends up happening, I think they’re going to be able to make it work.”
Herbert said he would “ideally” have a chance to test taking under-center snaps at some point this week.
“I just really haven’t gotten that far yet,” he added, “and I think it’s just seeing how it feels and if it’s comfortable enough.”
When asked about game-planning around this under-center uncertainty, Harbaugh said, “Prepare for everything. Prepare for all scenarios.”
The Chargers will release their game status report on Saturday.
“I’m doing everything I can to be out there,” Herbert said. “I’d fight through anything for those guys. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be realistic and listen to the doctors, because they know best. We’ll see how it goes.”