The Los Angeles Chargers, heading into this final stretch of games that will determine their season, now have an additional concern to deal with: the fractured non-throwing hand that Justin Herbert suffered in their win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13.
While the team appears "optimistic" that Herbert will play on Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles, there remains concern about his ability to take snaps under center, and, according to offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a potential solution might involve backup quarterback Trey Lance taking those snaps:
Chargers OC Greg Roman on QB Trey Lance potentially handling under center snaps: "We'll do whatever it takes. If that's the case, so be it."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 4, 2025
While Herbert being available for most of the game, and the team being able to reconstruct its offense around shotgun and pistol looks, would be the best-case scenario given how recent Herbert's injury is, bringing Lance in could add a strange wrinkle to their offensive gameplan.
Trey Lance could take snaps against the Eagles
So far this season, Herbert has been as excellent as he could have been expected to be given the sub-par play, and injury struggles, of his offensive line. Through his first 12 games, Herbert has amassed 2,842 passing yards along with 21 touchdowns (to just 10 interceptions).
Yet, the Chargers are still in a position where they will likely need to win, at the very least, two of their last five games in order to have a shot at a Wild Card spot, and, when you consider their competition, that fact becomes concerning. Over the next five weeks, they will face the Eagles, the Chiefs, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Broncos. Each of these teams, certainly, presents their own unique challenges.
The Eagles, however, may be extra susceptible, contrary to expectations at the start of the season. They have lost their last two games to the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears, and their offense looks exceedingly stagnant in consideration of the talent they have present on their roster.
Moreover, with their prime defensive playmaker in Jalen Carter set to miss the game, Los Angeles will likely have an easier time re-shaping its offensive attack in order to account for Herbert's limitations.
Yet, with the possibility that Lance will take snaps under center, will there be a new wrinkle opened up in the Chargers' offense?
Lance is certainly a speedy runner, and having him take the handoffs out of the I-formation will maintain the threat, at least in the opposing team's strategic mind, of there potentially being a designed quarterback run.
Lance, however, is not an exceedingly accurate passer, nor is he particularly poised in the pocket. When he is taking snaps, therefore, the team will be limited in what they can ask him to do.
It seems that, come hell or high water, Herbert is going to do his best to play in this game. Yet, it is possible that the team must also count on Lance, who has only appeared in three games this season, to keep the offensive versatile.