Justin Herbert’s season has gone off the rails fast enough that one NFL analyst is already floating a move out of Los Angeles.
The Chargers are sitting at 0-6 entering Week 7, a stunning fall for a team led by a quarterback who’s long been viewed as one of the league’s better players. Instead, Herbert’s production has cratered, Jim Harbaugh looks stuck searching for answers, and the whole operation feels like it’s slipping toward the bottom of the standings.
That backdrop is what made Jordan Dajani’s latest CBS Sports feature stand out on Wednesday. Dajani listed five players he would “like to see get a change of scenery,” and Herbert was one of the names on the list.
The case starts with the numbers. Herbert leads the NFL with eight interceptions this season, and his 190.2 passing yards per game are a career low.
Dajani also pointed out that Herbert became the first quarterback in league history to open a season with zero wins after six weeks “while throwing an interception with at least two sacks taken in each game. It's been a disaster,” Dajani says.
Still, the suggestion goes beyond just the stat line. Dajani wrote, "Justin Herbert is not Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson.
He can't be leading the Chargers in rushing yards like he did against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and he can't power a team to success by himself," he adds. "Herbert needs a more comfortable situation - maybe one that includes a Brian Flores defense and Justin Jefferson."
In Other News...
Chargers Winless Start Puts Omarion Hampton Decision Under Fire
With the Chargers still searching for their first win, the attention around their backfield has started to sharpen, especially when it comes to Omarion Hampton. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said the way Hampton is being used is tied to game situations, which is the kind of answer teams lean on when they want to keep the discussion focused on the bigger picture rather than one players workload. In a season where every decision gets magnified, that explanation matters because the Chargers do not have much room for second-guessing.
McDaniels point fits the broader tone around the division, where coaches are trying to steady things without making drastic moves. Sean Payton has said he is not planning to bench Bo Nix and wants his team to keep improving, while Andy Reid has expressed full confidence in Harrison Butker as the Chiefs kicker works through his issues. For the Chargers, the question around Hampton is less about whether he belongs in the plans and more about how long the current usage pattern holds if the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Seem To Be Delaying One Offensive Decision Fans Feared
The Chargers bye week has brought some much-needed breathing room after an 0-6 start, but it has not brought clarity on the offense. Mike McDaniel was seen at practice on Tuesday, a sign that he remains in place for now even as the units struggles have only intensified the questions around him.
There has been no official coaching change from the Chargers, and the team is using the week off to take a hard look at what has gone wrong. Jim Harbaugh is still evaluating the offense and has not ruled out a future change, leaving the situation open-ended as the Chargers try to decide whether patience or a reset is the better move. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Enter Bye Week With One Problem They Cant Ignore
The Chargers head into the bye week with little room to pretend the problem is anything other than the offense. After six straight losses and an 0-6 start, the team has slipped near the bottom of the NFL conversation, and the recent defeat only sharpened the sense that the break has arrived at a necessary moment. Injuries and turnovers have chipped away at the units consistency, leaving Los Angeles searching for answers before the schedule tightens again.
Jim Harbaugh has already signaled that the offense has to be evaluated, which makes the next stretch feel especially important for a team that still has to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. The larger question now is how much change follows that evaluation, because the Chargers cannot afford to let the bye week pass without finding a cleaner path forward. Whether that means adjustments, role changes, or something more significant, the pressure to respond is only growing. [Read more 🡒]