Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the defender Justin Herbert will not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos.
WITH Chargers lost 20–16 For the Houston Texans on Saturday, leaving them without a chance to compete for an AFC West title, Herbert's move to rest makes sense. Herbert is still recovering from surgery he had Dec. 1 to stabilize a fracture in his left (non-throwing) arm.
Herbert was sacked five times by the Texansand he appeared to wince in pain after being hit in the first half. He didn't miss, however, completing 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 37 yards.
Herbert may not be the Chargers' only starter, but Harbaugh didn't say who might join Herbert on the bench.
“The guys that have the most bruises and need the most healing, we're going to get them back out. Justin Herbert will be one of them,” Harbaugh told reporters Monday. “We'll see how the rest of the week goes, what they will be like. In some situations, some of the starters will be substitutes.”
Former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance will start against the Broncos at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, with DJ Uiagalelei serving as his backup, Harbaugh said. The Chargers are fighting for the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.
Herbert passed for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns for the 11-5 Chargers, who won four straight games before losing to the Texans for the second time this calendar year after losing to Houston in last season's playoffs.
While a win over the Broncos would give the Chargers a season advantage over the AFC West champions, the Chargers need Herbert to be at his best as potential wild-card road games against the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars loom on the horizon.
