Pro Football Rumors
Since Justin Herbert underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, his availability for Week 14 has been in question. That remains the case as of early Monday.
The Chargers have expressed optimism in recent days about Herbert being able to play through the injury tonight against the Eagles. The Pro Bowler has logged limited sessions in practice, but head coach Jim Harbaugh noted (h/t ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Herbert has managed to participate in seven-on-seven as well as 11-on-11 work this week. He is therefore still a candidate to suit up.
In the event Herbert does play, though, his mechanics will be something to monitor closely. Throughout his preparation in recent days, he has not been able to receive snaps from under center. Shotgun operations have been normal, as noted by Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Managing to handle snaps of all kinds without issue will of course be critical in determining whether or not Herbert will be able to finish (or even start) the Bolts’ Week 14 game.
Entering tonight, the Chargers sit at 8-4. Catching the Broncos for top spot in the division will be difficult even with a win, but Los Angeles is in a strong position to secure a wild-card berth. The 8-5 Colts are set to finish the season without quarterback Daniel Jones, while the Chiefs, Ravens and Dolphins all sport records of 6-7. Needless to say, Herbert’s health will be critical down the stretch.
The Chargers will have running back Omarion Hampton in place tonight. The first-round rookie will be counted on to handle a large workload in his first game action since late October. A run-based approach will be key especially if Herbert is limited or if he winds up being unable to play.
Trey Lance will be tasked with guiding Los Angeles’ offense in the event Herbert is ruled out for tonight. The former No. 3 pick has made three appearances so far this season, attempting just 13 passes. Those figures will increase if Herbert is ruled out later today, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.
