Justin Herbert has spent his NFL career piling up evidence that he belongs near the top of the league’s quarterback class. Now, the Chargers may finally be giving him the kind of setup that lets him turn all that talent into his biggest season yet.
That idea has been gaining steam all through Los Angeles’ training camp, and Tuesday’s joint practice with the 49ers only added fuel to it. Herbert reportedly put together another strong day, hitting multiple deep passes and helping the Chargers move the ball with regularity. San Francisco’s secondary had trouble keeping up with him and the passing game, which offered a fresh look at what this offense might become once the games start counting.
The biggest reason for the buzz is simple: Herbert has always had the arm to make every throw, but he has not always had an offense built to fully unlock it. With Mike McDaniel running the offense, that could change.
Los Angeles has spent the offseason shaping a faster attack that’s meant to create more explosive plays. Herbert also enters the year with more continuity around him, having another season under his belt with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. On top of that, David Njoku and rookie Brenen Thompson have been added to the mix, giving Herbert even more to work with.
Thompson has been one of the camp standouts. During the joint practice, he reportedly hauled in multiple deep touchdowns against the 49ers, a showing that only heightened the excitement around the speed this offense can bring to Herbert’s game.
There’s also a different feel to Herbert this offseason. He doesn’t look like a quarterback still trying to sort out a new system. He looks comfortable in it.
That matters.
The Chargers have had their share of seasons where optimism ran into injuries or uneven play. This time, Herbert appears to be operating in an offense that can let him attack more freely while still playing to his strengths. If that holds, the best year of his career may still be coming.
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Beyond the optics, Los Angeles still has practical decisions to make as it trims and manages the 53-man roster. The backup job behind Herbert remains unresolved with DJ Uiagaleleis preseason showing part of the evaluation, and the situation at center got more complicated with Tyler Biadasz moving to injured reserve. The talking points may be lively, but the Chargers still have some real roster sorting to do before the picture looks settled. [Read more 🡒]