EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Justin Herbert has consistently remarked during training camp that the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense would take time to evolve at the start of the season. However, since their bye week, the squad seems to have gained momentum and is beginning to show signs of the high-performing unit that fans have come to expect since Herbert was selected sixth overall in the 2020 draft.
With a healthier Herbert and additional practice time with his wide receivers, the Chargers have reestablished their vertical passing attack. Heading into the upcoming game against Cleveland, Herbert has accumulated 540 passing yards in the past three games on throws of at least 10 yards.
In the time since the Chargers’ Week 5 bye, he has gone 22 for 36 on deep passes, a noticeable improvement compared to his earlier performance, where he was just 8 for 24 in the first four games.
“I don’t think people realize the extent of what he was dealing with physically at the beginning of the year,” said offensive coordinator Greg Roman. “As he gets healthier, you can really see the impact. Plus, he seems to gain more comfort and understanding with what we’re trying to achieve each week. We’ve only just started to tap into our potential in the last couple of weeks.”
Herbert missed two weeks of training camp due to an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot and later incurred a high right ankle sprain during a Week 2 victory over Carolina. This injury hampered his mobility and played a role in the team’s defeats against Pittsburgh and Kansas City, as Herbert was unable to participate in full team drills for a full two weeks.
Had it been his second or third season in Roman’s offensive system, the added time away may not have been as detrimental. However, with both a new offensive scheme and a relatively inexperienced receiving corps, the short recovery time proved problematic for the team’s cohesion.
“We had to adjust a lot of what we were running to fit the circumstances,” Roman remarked. “Talking about it wouldn’t change the situation; all we could do was adapt as best as possible. For a first-year situation, it wasn’t ideal.”
Throughout the season, the Chargers have remained dedicated to maintaining a balanced offensive approach. They have called passing plays slightly over half the time, at 51.4%, marking their lowest rate through the first seven games since 2007 when it was recorded at 47.8%.
Despite the inexperience of some receivers, Herbert has impressively not thrown an interception in his past five starts, marking the longest current streak in the league and just one game away from the franchise record.
Tight end Will Dissly has emerged notably, compiling 13 receptions in the last two games, while Ladd McConkey becomes the first Chargers rookie receiver since 2010 to achieve a 100-yard game with two touchdowns.
Joshua Palmer, who had a slow start to the season, has begun to find his rhythm with six catches in the last two games, highlighted by a 45-yard reception last week.
This week, Herbert could welcome DJ Chark back into the mix, who is set to make his return after two months out with a groin injury.
Additionally, Herbert’s ability to scramble presents another layer to the offense. His 38-yard run late in the first quarter against the Saints helped revitalize the Chargers’ offensive flow.
“I believe everything is coming together gradually. We faced challenges and injuries, but when Justin is healthy, our potential becomes evident,” Palmer stated. “His threat to run opens up a lot for our offense.”
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and Roman have emphasized a physically demanding approach, yet the flexibility of the offense could be the best descriptor of its identity. In recent years, the unit was known for a high rate of passing plays, but adaptability is now a key focus.
“If we can effectively balance our ability to run and throw, it creates a credible threat, and defenses have to respect that,” Herbert explained. “If we reach that point, it will unfold many opportunities for us.”
J.K. Dobbins is currently sitting 10th in the league with 535 rushing yards and is a strong contender for the Comeback Player of the Year after a significant Achilles injury sidelined him most of the previous season. Although he has averaged 3.2 yards per carry in the last five games, he has still managed six carries of 12 yards or more.
The Chargers may need to emphasize their running game more in their Sunday matchup against a Browns defense that boasts the fifth-lowest completion percentage allowed on throws of 10 yards or more, standing at 43.7%.