Justin Herbert injured his left hand in the LA Chargers' win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and underwent surgery to treat the injury on Monday. The surgery was reportedly successful, and with it, Chargers fans got more information on exactly the type of injury Herbert sustained.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Herbert suffered a fractured metacarpal on his left hand. The metacarpal connects the wrist bones to the finger bones and impacts all five fingers. It's unclear where specifically the fracture was, and which fingers were affected.
It sounds worrisome, but it actually isn't. Rapoport isn't convinced Herbert will miss any time, and all Chargers fans have to do it look at the 2024 season to see what an elite quarterback can do with a fractured left hand.
Josh Allen gives Chargers fans hope after Justin Herbert injury diagnosis
It gets forgotten about since he had such a stellar season, but Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen broke his non-throwing hand in Week 1 of the 2024 season. Allen didn't have surgery, but he also played just four days later on Thursday in Week 2.
Herbert's situation is slightly different since he had surgery, but it's also not a full break. Allen being able to turn around and play on Thursday bodes well for Herbert's Week 2 prospects. Allen being able to turn around and win an MVP bodes well for Herbert's long-term future this season.
There's bound to be some kind of impact on Herbert, especially early on. It wouldn't be surprising if the Chargers operate exclusively out of the shotgun against the Eagles, and it will likely have an impact on Herbert's hand-offs.
However, Allen proved last season that it shouldn't have a massive impact on Herbert's performance. That's great news for the Chargers, who need Herbert to be a superhero to make a run in the wide-open AFC.
Regardless of which version of Herbert shows up next Monday, Chargers fans shouldn't be worried. This isn't an injury that should seriously impact Herbert in January, regardless how scary it seemed in the moment against the Raiders.
With those fears left in the dust, fans can instead turn their focus to the next two weeks of action. The Chargers enter a season-defining stretch starting with the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Over these two weeks, the Chargers will prove whether or not they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
And thankfully, they can prove it with a version of Herbert that can still play at an elite level.