What We Know About Chargers QB’s Status

A primetime matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders won’t feature one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert underwent season-ending surgery on his right index finger earlier this week. Backup Easton Stick will make his first NFL start for the Chargers (5-8) against the Raiders (5-8) on Thursday Night Football. The game is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET in Vegas and will air on Prime Video.

Here’s what fans need to know about Herbert’s absence.

What Happened To Herbert?

Herbert completed a pass to Chargers tight end Donald Parham Jr. in the second quarter of the Chargers’ loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday. Toward the end of the play, the 6-foot-6 QB took a hit from Broncos defensive end Zach Allen. After the whistle, Herbert got up in pain and looked at his right hand. The former first-round pick stayed in for the rest of the drive, then went to the locker room shortly after.

Stick saw his first lengthy stint in an NFL game after replacing Herbert. The backup finished 13-of-24 passing for 179 yards. On Tuesday, the Chargers officially announced that Herbert would undergo season-ending surgery on his right index finger later that day.

When Will Herbert Be Back?

Los Angeles placed its star quarterback on injured reserve, so the next time fans will have a chance to see him on the field will likely be in next year’s season-opener.

“All of our focus has got to be on his future,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said of Herbert earlier this week. “Certainly there’s nothing more important than that, than his right hand and his long-term future. He’s 25 years old. He’s got a really, really bright future in front of him. Every decision is going to be with that in mind.”

Chargers QB Depth Chart Without Herbert

Stick is elevated to QB1 for the Chargers in light of Herbert’s injury.

This Thursday Night Football meeting with the Raiders will mark the 28-year-old’s first start since college. The Bolts selected Stick in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. But before relieving Herbert against the Broncos, the former North Dakota State quarterback had thrown only one NFL pass. Unfortunately for Stick, L.A.’s top pass-catching target, Keenan Allen, will not be available because of a heel injury.

“Obviously, this isn’t how I envisioned it when they selected me five years ago,” Stick told reporters making his first start after Herbert’s injury. “[But] this is what you want as a kid, an opportunity to go play. So I’m excited to go do that.”

Added pass-rusher Khalil Mack, who tallied six sacks in the first matchup against his former team earlier this season: “A big opportunity for our guy Easton Stick to step in and show us what he’s capable of, along with our defensive performance.”

With Herbert on injured reserve, the Chargers activated rookie QB Max Duggan to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. The former TCU star, and 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up, was a seventh-round draft pick by the Chargers this year and will serve as Stick’s backup.

Other Starting NFL QBs Out for Season

Herbert now finds himself in some unfortunate company.

He is one of seven starting quarterbacks across the league to suffer a season-ending injury this season. Herbert joins an ever-growing list that includes Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) of the Jets, Anthony Richardson (shoulder) of the Colts, Daniel Jones (knee) of the Giants, Kirk Cousins (Achilles) of the Vikings, Deshaun Watson (shoulder) of the Browns and Joe Burrow (wrist) of the Bengals.

Rodgers is pursuing a comeback this season, though whether he will actually see game action after his Week 1 injury remains to be seen.

Herbert finishes his fourth NFL season with 3,134 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games. The Pro Bowler’s streak of 62 consecutive starts will end when Stick takes the field on Thursday night.