Playoff week always brings pressure, but this one feels heavier for Mike Vrabel. The New England Patriots‘ head coach knows the road ahead is not easy. A primetime playoff game against a strong Chargers defense awaits. But at the center of it all, there’s a headache present in the offense, too.

“(The quarterback) He extends plays, keeps his eyes downfield, and makes guys miss,” Vrabel said about Justin Herbert on the Patriots’ official YouTube channel. “He’s able to create some explosive gains just by scrambling off the platform and moving the ball down the field, but also running defensively.”

Vrabel spoke about how Herbert handles pressure, saying he escapes free rushers and keeps plays alive. The head coach made it clear that it wasn’t just his prowess. His mentality was also part of why the coach dreaded the QB challenge.

“He’s tough,” Vrabel further said. “He’s taking shots with a cast on his left hand. He’s a tough football player who’ll do whatever it takes to help his team win.”

Herbert played with a cast on his left (non-throwing) hand after fracturing it in late 2025. Because he’s right-handed, he could still throw effectively. This mentality of wanting to be there for the team was just one of the reasons Vrabel emphasized.

While game prep continued, late news caused concern in New England. Patriots Wire reporter Sophie Weller shared a tweet Friday night on X.

“Mike Vrabel says TreVeyon Henderson missed practice today for a personal reason,” the X post read.

Since it was the Friday before the playoffs, the absence raised eyebrows. Thankfully, Vrabel confirmed it was not injury-related. Henderson is expected to be fine. This would be a silver lining, as facing Justin Herbert and an elite Chargers defense leaves no room for errors in their playoff game.

Justin Herbert focused on health as the Chargers face the Patriots

Wednesday’s practice revealed a lot for Justin Herbert. After practice, the quarterback had a much better feel for his playoff readiness.

“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 initial injury had come in Week 13, when Herbert fractured his left hand and needed surgery. After his surgery, he did play four more games, but his recent update on his health will relieve the Chargers fans.

Initially, though, Justin Herbert did not try to power through the injury when the Chargers faced Denver, opting instead for caution over bravado. The quarterback sat out the game as his fractured left hand continued to heal. With the playoffs looming, that pause may have been just as important as any snap he could have taken.

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Herbert finished the regular season with 3,727 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. He also added nearly 500 rushing yards, showing he can hurt defenses in more ways than one.

For now, the focus shifts to Foxborough, where the Chargers are set to face the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round. The matchup kicks off at Gillette Stadium on Sunday at 6:30 PM ET, with Herbert’s health once again under the spotlight.