The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s season took another sharp turn after he suffered a fracture in his non-throwing hand. It quite forced him into immediate surgery while somehow leaving open the possibility of a return in just seven days.
What initially appeared to be a routine finger issue has now been revealed as something far more serious, and the Chargers are suddenly in a race against time to keep their quarterback available as their season hangs in the balance.
Sports injury expert, Dr. Jesse Morse, delivered the key clarification in a detailed update, explaining that Herbert’s injury was “actually a metacarpal fracture and not a phalanx,” noting that the specific finger remains unclear but is “likely the third or fourth.”
Morse outlined that metacarpal fractures vary by location (neck, head, shaft, or base) and Herbert’s is significant enough to require surgery, “likely with a pin, plate, and screws.” He added that Herbert is still hoping to play one week from today against the Eagles, calling it possible only because “it is the non-throwing hand.”
Herbert’s undergoing surgery immediately signals that this is a structural injury the Chargers cannot ignore or tape over. The team’s public optimism for Week 14 is aggressive, bordering on unrealistic. But it matches Herbert’s history of pushing through pain and the Chargers’ urgency to salvage their season. Whether he can grip, handle snaps, and absorb contact through a protected left hand will determine if this improbable comeback timeline survives the week.
Through the 2025 season, Justin Herbert has thrown for 2,842 yards (8th in the NFL) with 21 touchdowns (tied for 5th) and 10 interceptions, posting a 60.5 QBR that places him squarely in the middle of the pack.
His output of 2842 passing yards shows he is still capable of running the offense efficiently, maintaining a steady touchdown pace while distributing the ball well enough to keep defenses honest. Herbert’s mobility has also been a lifeline at times, with scrambles under pressure extending drives when protection collapses.
Still, the season has not been clean. The TD-to-interception ratio is solid but not special, and the QBR reflects a quarterback delivering strong stretches mixed with too many stalled possessions, leaving the Chargers in the competitive but flawed tier instead of true contention.
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