Justin Herbert latest injury update: Chargers QB talks about hand injury before NFL playoff game against Patriots

At the latest press conference, Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert was asked about his hand injury. “It continues to get better,” Herbert said. “Getting all the swelling out. Getting better mobility of it. Better strength. Getting back to the way it was before. So, we’re always making strides forward, and doing everything I can in the treatment room, out on the field. So, I thought it was good to have that week.” When a reporter asked if it feels as good as before the injury happened, Herbert said sitting out Week 18 against the Denver Broncos helped. “Yeah, for sure since before,” Herbert said. “I’d say definitely not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful for it. It limited the swelling and just getting back to making sure you have got full strength, being able to hold onto a football.” Daniel Popper of The Athletic wrote on X: Justin Herbert said his hand feels as good as it has since before he fractured it in Week 13, when he injured his left non-throwing hand during the victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert sustained a metacarpal fracture in his hand. He underwent surgery the following Monday and continued to play through injury from Week 14 to Week 17. He sat out the Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos to rest, recover, build strength, and for precautionary purposes before the NFL Wild Card Playoff opener against the Drake Maye-led New England Patriots.Herbert had not been taking snaps under center or gripping the football with his left hand since his injury. He avoided these during the week, only taking a few on Saturdays and game days. However, Kris Rhim of ESPN reported on Jan. 8 that for the first time since his hand injury, the breakout star was taking under-center snaps on Wednesday.“I would say that I was able to do most everything out there,” Herbert said of Wednesday’s practice. “It’s just making sure I can grip on the ball and have two hands on it in the pocket…so I think that’s been good.”The Patriots ended the 2024 season 3-14 and are now 14-3 with a three-game win streak.When reporters asked Herbert if last season’s game film, where the Chargers beat the Patriots 40-7 at Gillette Stadium, was helpful, he replied, “They’re not the same team they were last year. You turn on the tape, and you see a completely different team.”The Chargers will face the Patriots in an AFC Wild Card Playoff game on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at 8 PM ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The game will air on NBC 10 Boston.Also Read: Reportedly throwing shade? Patriots QB Drake Maye says he has never met Chargers QB Justin Herbert