Justin Herbert has never lacked the athleticism to hurt defenses with his legs. What’s changed for the Chargers heading into 2026 is the idea that Mike McDaniel may finally put that ability to better use.
McDaniel’s arrival as offensive coordinator opens the door to a different kind of Herbert usage, one that doesn’t rely on turning him into a high-volume runner. The Chargers are not expected to start dialing up a steady stream of designed quarterback runs, and nobody is suggesting Herbert suddenly morph into Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen. But there is a real chance his mobility becomes a more consistent part of the offense.
That’s the part that makes this so interesting. Herbert, at 6-foot-6, has long been an underrated athlete.
He moves well for a quarterback his size and has repeatedly shown he can pick up key first downs when a play breaks down. The issue has never been whether he can run.
It’s whether the Chargers have fully leaned into it.
Under McDaniel, that may start to shift.
His offense is built around efficiency, motion, play-action and misdirection - the kinds of tools that make defenses hesitate and create openings that don’t always appear in more traditional systems. A lot of the attention will naturally go to how Herbert fits into McDaniel’s passing game, but his ability to escape and extend plays could become a sneaky asset too.
The emphasis, though, should be on smart, selective running. Protecting Herbert remains the priority. What seems more likely is a version of the quarterback who is quicker to accept what the defense gives him and less inclined to wait forever for a deeper throw to materialize.
That has been a missed opportunity at times. Herbert’s confidence in his arm has occasionally kept him holding the ball a beat too long while he searches for something bigger downfield. In McDaniel’s system, those five- or six-yard gains on the ground could become much more valuable if they’re taken without hesitation.
There’s also been work this offseason on Herbert’s footwork and timing within the offense, which should help him feel more comfortable when protection breaks down. Cleaner mechanics and faster decisions can make a quarterback more willing to move instead of standing in place and waiting for routes to come open.
The supporting cast matters here too. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are entering the season healthy, Tyler Biadasz is in at center, and the running game is expected to stay central to the offense.
That should keep defenses from pinning their ears back in obvious passing situations. Add Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden, and there’s plenty for opponents to worry about before they start chasing Herbert out of the pocket.
So the payoff may not show up in a huge spike in rushing attempts. It could be far more subtle than that: more timely scrambles, more drives kept alive, more easy yards taken when the defense loses track of the quarterback.
Third downs are where that matters most. If the middle opens up or linebackers drift the wrong way in coverage, Herbert should have a clear green light to take the first down and move on.
He doesn’t need to become one of the league’s most dangerous rushing quarterbacks for this to matter. A few extra runs each game, taken at the right time, could add another layer to an offense that already has the pieces to be dangerous.
Sometimes the best play is the simplest one. For Herbert and the Chargers, that may be exactly what McDaniel is trying to unlock.
In Other News...
Chargers Just Added A Massive Rookie Tackle Fans Will Debate Fast
The Chargers kept adding to their offensive line with a move that fits both the present and the future, taking Travis Burke out of Memphis in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and quickly getting him under contract on a four-year deal. Burkes path to the league ran through Gardner-Webb, FIU and Memphis, and his college tape plus physical traits were enough to put him on NFL scouts radar as a tackle worth developing.
For Los Angeles, the appeal is obvious: Burke arrives as a developmental piece behind an already established group, giving the team another young body to shape without asking him to carry an immediate load. The bigger question is how quickly he can turn those tools into dependable NFL play, especially with evaluators still sorting through where his best fit ultimately lies. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Got A Reason To Believe The Chiefs Can Fall
The Chargers have spent years trying to close the gap in the AFC West, and this is the kind of outside noise that at least makes the chase feel a little less daunting. ESPN analyst Ben Solak pointed to Kansas Citys ongoing roster reshaping and the reality of contract decisions hanging over veteran players, arguing that the Chiefs may not look as untouchable down the line as they have for much of the Patrick Mahomes era.
For Los Angeles, the more interesting part is what comes next on its own side of the ledger. A roster that can stack up with Kansas Citys, plus a fresh offensive voice in Mike McDaniel, gives the Chargers a plausible path to making the division race real if Justin Herbert can settle quickly into the new system. Herberts adjustment could end up being the swing factor if the AFC West starts to tilt at all. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Bigger Tight End Question Than Expected
The Chargers thought they had a clear answer at tight end after Oronde Gadsden IIs strong rookie season in 2025, but the picture changed fast when veteran David Njoku arrived on a one-year deal. Njoku brings nine years of experience and a Pro Bowl nod, giving Los Angeles a proven pass catcher who has long been more than just a depth piece.
What makes this especially interesting is that the competition may not end with one player simply winning and the other fading into a backup role. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has the kind of personnel mix that could lead to plenty of multiple-tight-end looks, which means Gadsden and Njoku may both have real value even as the Chargers sort out how to use them most effectively. [Read more 🡒]