Justin Herbert injury update: Chargers QB exits game, Trey Lance takes over vs. Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert left Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and Trey Lance took over at QB. Herbert appeared to have injured his left hand, and the announcers said his return is questionable. He returned to action early in the second quarter.

Not having Justin Herbert for a significant amount of time would be a big loss for a Chargers team that is looking to win the AFC West. Entering Sunday’s game, Los Angeles had a 7-4 record and was two games behind the Denver Broncos for the division lead.

Herbert is putting together a solid 2025 season. Through 11 games, the former Oregon star has completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,691 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 94.2 passer rating. Herbert is looking to lead the Chargers to the postseason for the second consecutive season.

Jim Harbaugh is trying to get to Justin Herbert’s ‘level’

This summer, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said if his team wants to have more success, his players have to rise to Herbert’s level of play. “This is the truth, Justin Herbert’s biggest weakness is all of those that he’s counting on on offense — coaches, offensive line, playmakers, receivers, running backs — to get up to his level,” Harbaugh told Jamie Erdahl and Manti Te’o of the NFL Network in July, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. “I wake up every day to try to get to his level.”

Harbaugh also described how much Herbert has meant to the franchise. “I see him at the level, just the highest level as a quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “First five seasons, nobody’s thrown for more yards in the history of the NFL, and everything he does is, you just don’t change a thing, but whatever it is, conditioning, it’s too easy. Everything we do, we try to pull him back, because you never have to talk him into doing anything. He’s been in here every day.”

Herbert has been the Chargers’ starting QB since 2020. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2021.