Justin Herbert avoided a fracture in his injured left middle finger, a positive update after the Chargers' 44-22 loss to the Texans on Monday Night Football. Imaging on Monday came back negative, easing the immediate concern after Herbert left the game with an injury to his non-throwing hand.
The injury happened with 14:12 remaining in the fourth quarter when Herbert was hurt on a sack by Logan Hall. Two plays later, he was still able to throw a touchdown pass, a sign that he at least initially managed to play through the issue. After the game, Herbert said he expects to play through the injury, and Jim Harbaugh offered a similarly optimistic update by saying, "So he should be good to go."
Why the update matters
The Chargers standings situation adds another layer to the news. Los Angeles has dropped 11 consecutive games, so every injury update around Herbert carries extra weight. The team cannot afford much uncertainty at quarterback, especially with a game against the Ravens coming up on Monday Night Football in Week 10.
This latest hand injury also comes after Herbert already dealt with a left-hand issue earlier in the 2025 season. In Week 13, he broke a bone in the back of his left hand and later had it surgically repaired. That history makes the new injury worth monitoring even though the imaging showed no fracture.
For now, the key question has been answered: Herbert did not fracture the finger on this latest play. The bigger issue is whether the Chargers can keep him available and functional as they try to stop the skid and stabilize their season.
