The Chargers added a familiar name to the organization on Tuesday, signing tight end Patrick Herbert to the practice squad and bringing Justin Herbert’s younger brother to Los Angeles.
It’s the kind of move that instantly catches attention, and for good reason. Patrick and Justin briefly shared the same college stage at Oregon in 2019, but the idea of them lining up together for the Chargers is still a long way off.
Patrick is not walking into an open path on the active roster. Los Angeles already has David Njoku, Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden II ahead of him at tight end, which means he’ll have to climb a crowded depth chart before he gets anywhere near meaningful snaps on Sundays.
Still, there’s a reason the Chargers saw enough to bring him in. Patrick is regarded more as a blocking tight end than a polished receiving option, and that gives him a defined lane to develop in. He spent the 2025 season on Jacksonville’s practice squad after going undrafted, and he logged two catches for 12 yards in the Jaguars’ preseason this year.
His time at Oregon also gives the Chargers a baseline to work from. Over 43 games with the Ducks, Patrick totaled 31 receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns. Those are modest numbers, but his size and blocking ability give him a chance to build a role if he keeps progressing.
There’s also the obvious bonus of familiarity. Patrick has been around Justin for years, so he already knows how the quarterback operates.
That said, the Chargers didn’t bring him in simply because of the last name on the back of the jersey. He’ll still be judged like everybody else fighting for a spot.
For now, though, the story is exactly what it looks like: a brotherly reunion in Los Angeles.
Maybe one day it turns into a regular-season touchdown from Justin to Patrick. Just not anytime soon. Patrick still has to earn that moment first.
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