The Los Angeles Chargers are already in a tough spot after an 0-2 start, and Justin Herbert is being asked to answer for more than just the scoreboard. With the team headed into a Week 3 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, the questions around the Chargers are getting sharper, especially with the offense still trying to find its footing under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
That early-season stumble has been a surprise given the expectations around the team entering 2026. Plenty of observers believed the Chargers would use the opening stretch to establish themselves as AFC contenders. Instead, they’ve opened with losses to the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders, two teams that each won just three games last season.
The offense has been the biggest issue. In both defeats, the Chargers managed only 14 points while adjusting to McDaniel’s system, and that sluggish start has put extra pressure on Herbert to help steady things.
The conversation around the team has also shifted toward leadership inside the locker room, and Herbert was asked directly on Wednesday by ESPN NFL beat reporter Kris Rhim whether he felt a need to take on a bigger vocal role. Herbert didn’t let the question finish before pushing back.
"So I'm going to stop you right there and say that it's very present," said Herbert. "We've got great leadership on this team.
I trust those guys in that locker room. And so I don't think anyone is panicked or worried because that's not going to be the sentiment.
It's moving on to the next play and understand that we're close, we've made mistakes, how do we fix it?“
For Herbert, the message was clear: he sees no leadership void, and he believes the Chargers can work through the rough patch. But the schedule isn’t doing them many favors.
Five of their next six games, including Sunday’s trip to Buffalo, come against teams that reached the playoffs a year ago. The only exception is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are off to a 2-0 start and look like the old Chiefs again.
If the Chargers can’t get aligned offensively soon, this start could snowball fast. Sunday against the Bills will tell a lot about whether Herbert’s confidence translates from the podium to the field.
In Other News...
Chargers Get A Needed Break As Week 3 Offensive Questions Grow
The Chargers got a little bit of relief this week as their offense continues to sort itself out heading into Week 3. Tight end Charlie Kolar will not go on injured reserve after surgery, which at least keeps the door open for his return later in the season, even though he will miss the upcoming game. It is the kind of update that does not solve anything immediately, but it does matter for a team trying to keep its pass-catching depth intact while the bigger questions around the offense linger.
Jim Harbaugh also confirmed that the Chargers are bringing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling up to the active roster from the practice squad, giving them another veteran option to work with right away. For a group looking for answers and a little more stability, the move adds some insulation in the short term, even if the larger issue is still how quickly this offense can find its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Defense Is Already Making A Veteran's Role A Flashpoint
The Chargers rough start has put every part of the roster under a microscope, and the defense is no exception. After two losses to open the 2026 season, frustration around the building and among fans has only grown, with the coaching staff already drawing fresh scrutiny. Within that tension, the cornerback rotation has become one of the clearest signs that no role is guaranteed anymore.
Chris OLearys decision to bench Donte Jackson in Week 2 underscored how quickly things can shift for a veteran who was a strong part of last seasons defense. Jacksons snaps have already been trimmed as the Chargers try to sort out their rotation, and OLeary has made the standard plain: playing time goes to the best performers. For a team still searching for its footing, that makes Jacksons place in the mix one of the more interesting questions on the defense right now. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Pushes Back As Chargers Leadership Debate Heats Up
Justin Herbert took questions at his midweek press conference ahead of Week 3 with the Chargers already trying to steady a rough start. After two home losses to open the 2026 season, the conversation around the team has shifted quickly from results to accountability, and Herbert made it clear he does not buy the idea that he has been quiet when it comes to leadership.
Herbert said the focus has to be on moving forward and cleaning up the mistakes that have piled up early. With a demanding schedule still ahead, the Chargers do not have much room for drift, and the scrutiny around their quarterbacks voice is only going to grow if the losing continues. [Read more 🡒]