EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Quarterback Justin Herbert will not play in the Los Angeles Chargers’ Week 18 matchup at the Denver Broncos, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.

Trey Lance will start the game at quarterback and practice squad quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will be the backup, according to Harbaugh. Herbert, who fractured his left hand four weeks ago, will not dress.

“He’s got bruises that need to heal,” Harbaugh said of Herbert.

Herbert had surgery to stabilize the fracture exactly four weeks ago. He suffered the fracture in the first quarter of a Week 13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert started one week after the surgery in a Monday night win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He has not missed a start since the injury.

The Chargers (11-5) could potentially rest other starters for the game against the Broncos, but he did not specify any players outside of Herbert. Harbaugh said the team will “see how the week transpires” before making the decision on which starters will play.

“Those conversations will take place during the week, and they’ll be made as an organization,” Harbaugh said.

The Chargers are currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC, though they could drop to No. 7 with a loss. They have already clinched a playoff berth. They could move up to the No. 5 seed with a win over the Broncos and some help elsewhere. Harbaugh is instead prioritizing the health of his quarterback as the Chargers prepare for a road playoff game.

The move will perhaps have the biggest impact on the Chargers’ opponent, as the Broncos would clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with a win. The New England Patriots would get the top seed with a win over the Miami Dolphins and a Broncos loss, while the Jacksonville Jaguars would get the top seed with a win over the Tennessee Titans and losses by the Broncos and Patriots.

Denver’s big break

When Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton was asked Monday to sum up the challenge his team faced in Week 18 against the Chargers, with the No. 1 seed on the line, he responded succinctly.

“Justin Herbert’s one of the best players in the world,” Singleton said. “We’re going to have to focus on that, especially defensively.”

In other words, the Broncos have caught a massive break. They need not apologize for it. Denver (13-3) put itself in position to capitalize on an opponent’s roster-management decisions by winning 11 straight games after its September loss to these same Chargers.

Still, the decision by Harbaugh to sit his MVP candidate quarterback changes the formula significantly for Denver. The Broncos have lost three straight games to the Chargers dating back to last season, and Herbert’s heroics have factored heavily into those defeats.

His third-and-long scramble in Week 16 last season helped seal a win that ultimately dropped Denver to the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. In Week 3 this season, the Broncos led by a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Herbert broke out of a would-be sack, avoided another defender and threw a game-tying touchdown pass to Keenan Allen against tight coverage. It’s an entirely different challenge than almost any other quarterback in the league presents.