Chargers QB Justin Herbert will undergo surgery Monday after suffering a broken bone in his non-throwing (left) hand against the Raiders.
During Sunday’s 31–14 win over the Raiders, Justin Herbert sustained a fracture to the back of his left hand, his non-throwing hand, on a scramble early in the game.
Despite the injury, he came back after a short sideline visit with a hard cast and glove, then threw a 10-yard touchdown on the very next play.
Justin Herbert fractured his left hand in Sunday’s win vs. the Raiders and will undergo surgery Monday, per HC Jim Harbaugh.
It’s uncertain if he will miss any time pic.twitter.com/mA2QxAnsn4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 1, 2025
Head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Herbert will undergo a procedure on Monday to repair the break.
After the game, Herbert was optimistic, saying he was “treating it as if I’m playing Monday.”
What this means for Week 14 and beyond
The Chargers head into a primetime Monday Night Football matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles still carrying hopes for Herbert, but nothing is guaranteed. Harbaugh refused to commit, saying they’ll “see where the week takes us.”
If Herbert is unavailable or limited, backup Trey Lance, who briefly filled in during the Raiders game, could take the helm.
Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Justin Herbert had “a break in the back of his hand”, he went on to say “he’s as tough as they come.” pic.twitter.com/ZTzWOwZmLm
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) December 1, 2025
But even with Herbert back, the Chargers may lean more heavily on the run and shotgun formations to protect the injured hand.
Bigger picture: playoffs, protection, and momentum
Los Angeles improved to 8–4 with the Raiders’ win, keeping pace in the AFC playoff race. The timing couldn’t be more critical: a healthy Herbert is pivotal if the team wants to maintain its postseason push.
Because this is a fracture to the non-throwing hand, the risk to his passing performance is less, but ball security, snaps under center, and long-term durability still matter.
Justin Herbert returns to the game with a protective glove on his injured left hand pic.twitter.com/rbd567sNaI
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 30, 2025
Herbert has dealt with left-hand injuries before; in 2023, he missed time after a finger fracture on that same hand.
If the Chargers can protect Herbert and he returns quickly, this could turn into a rough weekend story rather than a turning-point injury. If not, the next few days could define whether Los Angeles’ playoff ceiling shrinks or holds firm.
