The Chargers are adding a new arm behind Justin Herbert, and the timing says plenty about where this season stands in Los Angeles.
After a 23-17 Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos dropped the Chargers to 0-5 heading into Week 6, the team moved to bring in Jake Browning, a former Cincinnati Bengals backup, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
“The Chargers are signing veteran QB Jake Browning, per source,” Pelissero reported.
It’s not yet clear whether Browning is joining the active roster or the practice squad. That detail is expected to come out later.
Browning, 30, has played in 17 career games for Cincinnati and started 10 of them. He was pressed into action for five games last season when Joe Burrow was sidelined by a turf toe injury. Over his career, Browning has thrown for 2,702 yards with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while completing 68.5% of his passes.
For now, the ideal setup in Los Angeles is still simple: Herbert has to straighten things out. Browning hasn’t appeared in a game yet in the 2026-27 campaign, and the Chargers would prefer it stay that way. But with the offense sputtering badly, the team clearly wanted another layer of protection.
Herbert’s numbers tell the story. Through five games, he has 937 passing yards, five touchdowns and a league-high seven interceptions. His 59.4% completion rate is the worst of his NFL career since entering the league in 2020.
The two-time Pro Bowler gets a chance to bounce back in Week 6, but the assignment is a brutal one. The Chargers are headed on the road to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs next.
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Justin Herbert Questions Grow After Chargers Make Sudden QB Move
The Chargers are making a quick quarterback addition ahead of Sundays game against the Chiefs, signing veteran Jake Browning as they try to steady the position for the immediate future. Browning arrives with NFL experience from his previous stops with the Vikings and Bengals, giving Los Angeles another arm on the roster as the matchup with Kansas City approaches.
The move has only added to the questions around Justin Herbert, whose 2026 season has been well below the standard expected from the teams franchise quarterback. Still, a team source said the organization has never even discussed trading Herbert, which keeps the focus on how the Chargers plan to navigate the short term rather than on any wholesale change at the top of the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Trade Idea Would Fix A Big Need And Sting A Rival
The Chiefs are heading into their Week 6 matchup with the Chargers coming out of a bye, and they are also being talked about as a team that could keep adding before the trade deadline. Kansas City already made a move for wide receiver Justin Watson, and the conversation around the roster now includes defense, where one of the most recognizable names in the division has surfaced as a possible fit for the reigning AFC powers.
Bleacher Reports Alex Kay floated Khalil Mack as a target, a suggestion that would instantly grab attention around both teams. Mack is on a one-year deal and could be viewed as a manageable rental if the Chargers continue to stumble, which only adds to the intrigue for a division rival looking to patch a need while making life a little more uncomfortable for Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Injury Crisis Is Forcing A Search They Couldn't Avoid
An 0-5 start has already put the Chargers in a corner, and the injury situation has only made the climb steeper. With 18 players on the injury report heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Broncos, the roster has been stretched thin enough that the team has started surveying the market for help, including multiple receivers and quarterbacks with varying degrees of NFL experience and familiarity with the staff.
The searches underscore how quickly the season has turned into a depth test in Los Angeles. The Chargers do not have the luxury of waiting for reinforcements to simply heal in place, so they have been bringing in options to keep the roster functional while the injury list keeps growing. For a team already tied for the worst record in the league, even the most routine workout can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]