Justin Herbert isn’t exactly hiding what he thinks of Brenen Thompson.
The Chargers quarterback sounded convinced when he talked about the rookie receiver on Wednesday, and he didn’t stop at simple praise. Herbert said, via ESPN’s Kris Rhim, “He’s gonna be very good,” Herbert said on Wednesday, via ESPN's Kris Rhim.
“We saw it early on that he was gonna be. He’s skilled.
He’s fast. He’s gonna make a lot of plays for us.”
That confidence lines up with what’s already showing up on the practice field. Rhim also posted video of Herbert connecting with Thompson in training camp, and the rookie finished the play with an eye-catching sliding catch over the middle.
Los Angeles used a fourth-round pick on Thompson in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding another explosive piece to a receiver group that already looks deeper than it did a year ago. The Chargers have built up real buzz around the offense this offseason, and Thompson is one of the names that could help give it another layer.
His college production hints at why the Chargers took the swing. The Mississippi State grad averaged 18.5 yards per reception in 2025, and his career mark of 39.8 yards per touchdown reception says plenty about the kind of threat he can be when the ball is in the air.
Speed is the calling card. Thompson can run past defenders on the outside or flash across the middle, and that kind of burst is what makes him interesting. At 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds, though, he’s going to have to lean on that speed to carve out a long NFL run.
For now, the path to snaps isn’t wide open. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre’ Harris are all ahead of him on the depth chart, which points to a rotational role at best as a rookie.
Even so, there’s room for the Chargers to script a few chances for him. If Thompson keeps stacking plays in camp and carries that momentum into the preseason, he could force his way into the conversation sooner than expected.
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