Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s 2023 season is over, as the team announced he will undergo surgery to repair a fracture to his index finger on his right throwing hand.<\/b>
\nLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert\u2019s 2023 season is over.
The Pro Bowl signal-caller will undergo surgery to repair a fracture to his index finger on his right throwing hand and will be placed on injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.
Herbert fractured his index finger in the second quarter of the Chargers\u2019 24-7 loss to the\u00a0Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Herbert took a hit from\u00a0Denver defensive lineman\u00a0Zach Allen\u00a0after a completion to Los Angeles tight end Donald Parham, and looked down at his right hand.
The 25-year-old headed to the locker room after the play, and was relieved by Easton Stick, who went 13-for-24 with 179 yards.
It was the first time Stick, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, appeared in a game since Week 7 of the 2020 season.
Herbert went 9-for-17 passing with 96 yards and an interception before leaving the game.
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously tough,\u201d he said\u00a0on Sunday, while wearing a splint on his finger. \u201cYou feel bad for hanging the team out like that. You never want to be taken out of the game. \u2026 It is something that we\u2019ll know more as the week goes on and if there\u2019s any chance to play, I\u2019ll do everything I can to be out there.\u201d
Herbert added that he \u201c[couldn\u2019t] remember whether [his finger] got hit on a helmet or whether it hit on someone\u2019s shoulder pads.\u201d
This will mark the first time in Herbert\u2019s career he will miss a game due to injury.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft started 62 consecutive regular-season games since making his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2020 season.\u00a0
Head coach Brandon Staley\u00a0said Monday\u00a0the Chargers would do \u201cwhatever\u2019s best for Justin long-term\u201d amid speculation about his own job security.
The Chargers (5-8) will move forward with Stick when they face the\u00a0Raiders (5-8)\u00a0in Las Vegas on Thursday, as both teams are fighting for a wild-card spot in the AFC playoff race.
\u201cLove you, 10,\u201d the Chargers wrote in a separate post on X Tuesday. \u201cHere\u2019s to a speedy recovery.\u201d
Herbert\u2019s 2023 season ends with 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 65.1 completion percentage in 13 games.
In October, Herbert fractured the middle finger on his left hand in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but did not miss any time.
Herbert signed a $252.5 million, five-year extension during the offseason.<\/p>\n