The Los Angeles Chargers are absolutely cratering through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, sitting at a brutal 0-5 record when everyone had them pegged as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Despite the shocking start, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler made it crystal clear: Justin Herbert is NOT being traded. Yeah, you read that right. Even with an abysmal record and playoff hopes pretty much evaporated, the star QB isn’t going anywhere.
From Contenders to Clearance Rack: What’s Going On?
Talk about a gut punch. Coming into 2026, the Chargers were supposed to be legit Super Bowl contenders. Instead, they’re tied with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans at 0-5, but the vibe is completely different here. This isn’t just a bad start; it’s a full-blown disaster that has them looking like one of the biggest sellers heading into the NFL trade deadline. We’re talking Khalil Mack, Quinten Johnston, and probably a whole bunch of other guys potentially on the move. When a season goes this sideways, this fast, you usually expect a full reset. But that’s where the Herbert situation gets wild. You’d think the Chargers would want to blow everything up and get a massive haul for their franchise quarterback, right? Well, apparently not.
The “No Herbert Trade” Report Is Dropping Jaws
Fowler’s report shut down any Herbert trade talk cold. He put it bluntly, saying, “Yes, many evaluators around the league maintain a deep affinity for Justin Herbert despite his poor play. But he’s not being made available for trade.” This isn’t just an “unlikely” scenario, it’s a “not happening” scenario for the Chargers. While they absolutely *could* get an insane package of draft picks and players for Herbert, a mid-season deal is just not feasible, and an offseason move looks equally out of the picture. The thinking is that finding a quarterback with Herbert’s talent is incredibly rare, and even with this season being a total bust, trading him would set the Chargers back for years. So, instead of a full teardown, the Chargers are apparently planning to keep their core together, maybe move a few pieces by the deadline, and hope to turn this ship around in 2026 or, more likely, 2027.
So, for now, all signs point to Justin Herbert sticking with the Chargers for the foreseeable future. This 0-5 hole is brutal, but the team’s banking on Herbert leading them out of it eventually. What happens over the next few weeks with those trade deadline deals, and how this team responds for the rest of the season, is going to tell us everything about their plan for 2027. Fans are definitely going to be watching every snap, hoping for *something* to look forward to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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