Chargers Confirm QB Shakeup For High Leverage Situation

Herbert managed to finish the game on Sunday, but the staff had already begun modifying the operation around him. ESPN’s Kris Rhim reported that Herbert struggled most with “holding on to the football,” a detail that immediately altered their approach.

Because of that discomfort, “the Chargers didn’t take any snaps from under center for the rest of the game.” Rhim added that Herbert said “backup quarterback Trey Lance was prepared to take snaps under center in any goal-line scenarios.”

That contingency wasn’t hypothetical—it was active. Lance entered briefly, completing a pass for nine yards and adding a four-yard run. The coaching staff kept Herbert exclusively in shotgun and pistol formations to limit the stress on his left hand.

Those compromises are expected to continue into Monday night.

“Justin is a quarterback who takes all the reps, he’s a machine like that,” Harbaugh said, via Eric Smith of Charger.com. “We’ll make sure Trey is getting more of those goal-line reps, under center. I need to do a better job of that.”

The Chargers expect Herbert to practice in some capacity, but the quarterback’s workload will depend on swelling, pain tolerance, and ball-handling function following surgery. Even if Herbert plays against Philadelphia, Lance will be involved by design.

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Why Trey Lance Fits the Chargers’ Modified Plan

If the Chargers have to protect Herbert inside the five-yard line, Lance’s skill set becomes more than a luxury—it becomes an offensive tool.

Lance’s preseason résumé illustrates exactly why the staff sees value in giving him structured work:

• 257 rushing yards on 45 attempts (5.7 YPC)
• Three rushing touchdowns
• A 46-yard touchdown run demonstrating true breakaway speed
• 53% of his rushes coming via scrambles—showing natural elusiveness
• Reliable short-yardage and goal-line conversions

Lance is physically built for high-traffic areas of the field, possessing the size to survive contact and the acceleration to outrun it. That’s a stark contrast to the risks the Chargers face if they ask Herbert—now protecting a surgically repaired hand—to take snaps under center, brace for interior pressure, or execute quarterback sneaks.

With a playoff race tightening, reducing further exposure to Herbert is not optional.

The Strategic Importance of the Backup Quarterback

Harbaugh, who has long valued physical quarterback play, has also spoken openly about the growing importance of reliable backups. The Herbert situation underscores that trend league-wide. As the head coach put it, Lance will be prepared if the Chargers “need him against the Eagles.”

For a franchise that struggled for years whenever the starter went down, Lance represents stability—someone capable of taking situational snaps without disrupting the entire offensive structure.

His mobility also gives the Chargers a chance to expand their red-zone menu rather than shrink it due to Herbert’s limitations.

What to Expect Against the Eagles

Herbert is pushing to play. The team is pushing to protect him. Lance is preparing to contribute. All three things can be true at once.

The likeliest scenario Monday night looks something like this:

• Herbert starts and handles the bulk of the offense from shotgun
• Under-center plays—including goal-line attempts—shift to Lance
• The Chargers use Lance’s legs to diversify short-yardage calls
• Herbert avoids situations that risk contact to his left hand

The situation remains fluid, but the blueprint is clear: the Chargers will not sacrifice their long-term trajectory for one game, even one with major playoff implications.

What they will do is find every way possible to keep Herbert on the field—without putting him in avoidable danger—and that means Trey Lance is no longer just the backup. He’s part of the plan.