The Denver Broncos are getting a major Week 18 wrinkle from a familiar AFC West rival: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh explained the reasoning behind why Justin Herbert and other key starters will not play Sunday in Denver, a move the coach framed as a health-first decision with the playoffs looming.
The timing is what makes it a Broncos story, not just a Chargers note. The matchup is set for Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High, and Denver has plenty at stake.
Jim Harbaugh’s message: “Health and winning. That’s it.”
Harbaugh was direct about why Herbert is being “pulled back,” saying the Chargers are holding out players with “the most bruises” who “need the most healing,” and naming Herbert as the obvious example.
The Chargers’ official site added key context: Herbert has been playing with a broken left hand over the past month, which helps explain why the organization is choosing caution in the finale.
Harbaugh also insisted the decision isn’t about trying to manipulate matchups, just getting to the postseason as healthy as possible.
Broncos’ Week 18 stakes just got clearer
From Denver’s perspective, Herbert sitting changes the feel of the game, but it doesn’t change the urgency.
Denver clinches the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage with a win over the Chargers.
So the setup is simple: the Broncos have a clear goal, while the Chargers are approaching Week 18 with postseason protection in mind.
Who starts for the Chargers (and what it could mean)
What makes this decision especially notable is how Harbaugh described it: not as a “rest day,” but as a triage call for players who took the most punishment. That wording naturally raises the question Broncos fans are already asking: how close to 100% is Herbert right now, and how much of the late-season offense has been built around managing pain and limiting risk? Harbaugh didn’t offer a specific diagnosis at the podium, but the “most healing” comment is telling.
For Denver, the practical takeaway is this: the Broncos can’t treat Sunday like a walkover just because the name at quarterback changes. If anything, it often means a simplified, aggressive script early — runs, quick throws, and quarterback movement designed to avoid mistakes and steal a lead — and that can create a different kind of pressure on the home team.
With Herbert out, Harbaugh said Trey Lance will start, and DJ Uiagalelei will serve as the backup after being elevated from the practice squad.
Harbaugh also gave Lance a pretty strong endorsement, praising his preparation and specifically pointing to his ability to throw outside the numbers with touch and accuracy, along with his athleticism.
For Denver, that’s the scouting pivot: Lance brings a different style than Herbert, and that can change how the Broncos defend early downs, scramble situations, and “off-schedule” plays.
Key details Broncos fans should track
- Herbert will not play and won’t dress, per the Chargers.
- Lance starts; Uiagalelei is QB2.
- Harbaugh says the decision is about “health and winning,” not matchup manipulation.
- Denver can clinch the AFC No. 1 seed with a win.
What happens next
Harbaugh also hinted that Herbert might not be the only starter held out, saying other decisions will be made as the week unfolds.
That sets up the real “next update” for Broncos fans: will the Broncos give their starters a full game’s worth of work against a depleted Chargers team? Or will the Broncos begin to prioritize their own health, too?
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