Okay, so the Los Angeles Chargers’ season is officially in the dumpster, and the big problem is QB Justin Herbert, who’s racking up turnovers like it’s his job and has led them to an abysmal 0-5 start. You read that right: 0-5. His latest gem? Two more turnovers in Sunday’s 23-17 home loss to Denver. Seriously, what is going on down there?
Herbert’s Play Is Sinking Them, And The Numbers Don’t Lie
Herbert’s got eight total turnovers through five starts, which is just brutal. His stats are looking like some of the worst in the league: 85-for-143 (a sad 59.4% completion rate), only 937 yards, 5 TDs, a whopping 7 INTs, a paltry 6.6 yards per attempt, and he’s been sacked 17 times. All that adds up to a 70.2 passer rating. Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: this is NOT the performance you expect from a quarterback getting more than $218 million guaranteed on a five-year, $262.5 million deal. That’s a huge chunk of change for what they’re getting right now. Sure, they’re dealing with a ton of injuries on offense, with both tackles (Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt), the center (Tyler Biadasz), two wide receivers (Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston), and their best tight end (David Njoku) all hurting. It’s tough, absolutely, but a QB getting paid like Herbert needs to lift the team through that adversity, not succumb to it.
Stuck In The Mud: Why Bench Herbert Is A Fantasy
So, with Herbert playing so far below average, why aren’t the Chargers benching him? It’s a combo of that monster contract and a complete lack of good alternatives. Backup QB Trey Lance is on injured reserve with a groin injury, meaning he’s out until Week 10. Their current backup is DJ Uiagalelei, who they signed as an undrafted free agent in 2026. This dude had his own turnover issues in college, and honestly, the word is he could be even worse than Herbert. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Some folks suggested firing offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, but Jim Harbaugh has never called offensive plays as an NFL head coach. The only guy with that experience is passing game coordinator Adam Gase. So, benching Herbert isn’t an option, and firing McDaniel isn’t magically going to fix Herbert’s ball security problems. It feels like they’re just stuck.
This Is Their Nightmare For Years, Folks
Here’s the kicker about this whole mess: Herbert is locked in. He’s making $24 million in base salary this season, with a cap hit of $46.353 million. In 2027, he’s guaranteed $36 million in base, and his cap hit jumps to $58.345 million. The earliest the Chargers could even *think* about parting ways with him is 2028. Even then, they’d eat $28.12 million in dead money, whether over one or two years, saving $43 million pre-June 1, or $52 million post-June 1. It’s an absolute financial straitjacket. So, with him still healthy, they’re playing him out of this slump, whether they like it or not. The season is lost for them, and the pressure of a playoff push is gone. The only thing left for Herbert and the Chargers is to just… play it out. Man, what a rough situation.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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