Facebook Pixel

    What Happened to Justin Herbert? Chargers QB Out After Finger Injury

    The Los Angeles Chargers have had an underwhelming 2023 NFL season after entering the year with high hopes, given their talent across the roster — particularly on offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert.

    Los Angeles will now have to finish the season without the star QB after he suffered an injury in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos.

    Justin Herbert Out With Finger Injury

    Herbert initially suffered an apparent hand injury that was later revealed to be a finger ailment late in the second quarter of the Chargers’ eventual 24-7 loss to the Broncos. He attempted to get a pass off under pressure and banged his hand into Denver defensive end Zach Allen’s arm, immediately showing discomfort and shaking out his hand.

    Herbert was later seen jogging into the locker room and was initially listed as questionable to return by Los Angeles before the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game just before halftime.

    Following the game, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told reporters that Herbert had a fractured right index finger.

    News then came out that Herbert underwent surgery on Tuesday and is set to miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported.

    MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor

    Herbert finished his final game of the 2023 season going 9-of-17 for 96 yards and one interception while taking four sacks for a total loss of 37 yards.

    The game was perhaps a fitting encapsulation of a tough year for Herbert. He finished 297-of-456 for 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, all career lows. With the injury, the 13 appearances (all starts) this season will be the fewest games played of Herbert’s career.

    The Chargers QB had previously thrown for 4,000+ yards in each of his first three seasons, including 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions last year to help Los Angeles go 10-7.

    He was relieved Sunday by fifth-year quarterback Easton Stick, who finished the day going 13-of-24 for 179 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions while taking two sacks for a loss of 31 yards. Stick has now made just two career NFL appearances, his first coming in a brief stint for the Chargers back in 2020 where he completed one pass for four yards.

    Pelissero also reported that Stick will get the start for Los Angeles (5-8) on Thursday night when the team takes on the also struggling Las Vegas Raiders (5-8).

    Both teams sit back of the main pack in the AFC playoff race but could still boon their postseason hopes somewhat with a win.

    A logjam of six teams is tied at 7-6 in sixth through 11th place within the conference, which leaves many possibilities for how everything could shake out.

    Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!

    2025 NFL Mock Draft Simulator

    The PFN Mock Draft Simulator features hundreds of prospects, scouting reports, and free trades -- jump into the FREE mock draft machine and get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft.

    2025 NFL Season & Playoff Predictor

    PFSN's 2025 NFL Season and Playoff Predictor is a tool that allows you to play out various weekly scenarios to see how the NFL playoff picture changes with each scenario.

    NFL Offseason Manager: Salary Cap, Free Agency, and More

    Do you think you can manage your favorite team’s roster better than the real-life general managers? PFN's Offseason Manager is here to help you prove it.

    Guess the NFL Player

    Test your NFL knowledge with PFSN's Guess the NFL Player game, the ultimate NFL player guessing game for football fans!

    Steelers Insider Reveals One Non-Negotiable Detail of Pittsburgh’s Offer to Aaron Rodgers

    A team insider brought the latest on the non-negotiable demand in the contract that the Pittsburgh Steelers have placed in front of Aaron Rodgers.

    Former NFL QB Reveals His Pick for the Most Improved Team During the 2025 Offseason

    NFL analyst Chase Daniel and former quarterback argued the Denver Broncos are the most improved team after the first week of the free agency.

    Former Chiefs Star Justin Reid Gets Brutally Honest About Kansas City’s Super Bowl Meltdown Against Eagles

    New Orleans Saints safety Justin Reid didn't mince words when explaining why he felt the Kansas City Chiefs got destroyed in Super Bowl 59.

    Seahawks Predicted To Replace DK Metcalf By Selecting 6’4”, 28-TD WR in 2025 NFL Draft

    With an eye on maximizing Sam Darnold, one analyst has the Seattle Seahawks forming a deadly wide receiver trio in the 2025 NFL Draft.
    Join the Conversation!