Justin Herbert injury update offers Chargers glimmer of hope to actually win a game

The Los Angeles Chargers could have seen their 2026 season go from terrible to irredeemable had starting quarterback Justin Herbert been lost for any amount of time.

The good news for the Chargers is that Herbert will be okay despite getting pulled in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s 44-22 loss to the Houston Texans due to a hand injury.

"The imaging came back negative, so he should be good to go," head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters on Monday, according to ESPN News Services.

The Chargers came into this 2026 season among the favorites to be Super Bowl contenders. Through eight games, they're winless, and it's not like Herbert has been great.

Once thought of as one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL, the former No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft has thrown for six touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions this season.

The 2021 season that saw him throw for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns seems like ages ago at this point, but there's little doubt that Herbert gives the Chargers the best shot of actually winning a game.

His backup is DJ Uiagalelei, mind you. The former Florida State quarterback made his NFL debut when Herbert went out, but there's almost no reality in which Uiagalelei is a legitimate starting option in the NFL — even for a winless team looking for some kind of spark.

Chargers could be in line for their first win of 2026 against Ravens

The Chargers have lost 11 consecutive games dating back to last season, but they do have hope in Week 10 as they take on the Baltimore Ravens (4-5) on "Monday Night Football."

The Ravens are on a losing skid of their own (four games) and their injury situation at quarterback is so bleak that 25-year-old rookie Joe Fagnano made the start in their 33-10 Week 9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jacoby Brissett was recently acquired via a trade with the Arizona Cardinals and is expected to start against the Chargers. Considering the turnaround time and the fact that Brissett is no Lamar Jackson, this could be the Chargers' best opportunity to finally pick up a win in 2026.

Having Herbert out there will only increase their chances, as bad as he's been this season.