Justin Herbert
#1 QB,
Chargers
ACTUAL 2022
281 FPTS
RANK:11
2023 SEASON
380 FPTS
RANK:7
AGE
25 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'6'' / 236 lbs
COLLEGE
Oregon
Throwing at OTAs
Published 2023-05-22
Herbert (shoulder) threw passes to teammates Monday at OTAs, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Herbert resumed throwing earlier in May, about 13-to-14 weeks after postseason surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder. He's doing well enough to throw in practice, albeit without any defenders on the field for the first day of OTAs. There's still a chance Herbert misses some reps this spring, but he's well on his way to starting Week 1 and has a couple new faces in town (OC Kellen Moore, WR Quentin Johnston) to help him rebound from a disappointing 2022 in which the QB's touchdown rate (3.6 percent, 25 total) and yards per attempt (6.8) nosedived even with a career high in completion percentage (68.2). The Chargers are counting on their offseason additions to help Herbert rebound to his 2020-21 level -- 7.4 YPA; 308.9 total yards and 2.4 total TDs per game -- or possibly even reacher greater heights. Offensive line depth again looks like a weakness for the Chargers, but they at least have star LT Rashawn Slater coming back from a biceps tear and an elite center in Corey Linsley.
Resumes throwing after surgery
Published 2023-05-15
Herbert (shoulder) threw a football Monday, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Coming off winter surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Herbert hadn't resumed throwing as of late April. He's throwing now, which doesn't mean he'll be cleared for spring practices but does show he's progressing about as expected. Once he's ready to practice, Herbert will have a new offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore) and rookie first-round wideout (Quentin Johnston) on hand to help him thrive in his fourth NFL season.
Receives fifth-year option
Published 2023-04-28
The Chargers picked up the fifth-year option on Herbert's (shoulder) rookie contract Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
With the May 1 deadline to make such a decision with 2020 first-round picks, L.A. did as expected with its franchise signal-caller. Through three seasons, Herbert has racked up at last 4,300 passing yards on each occasion, posted 94 touchdowns versus 35 interceptions and also added eight scores on the ground. Currently, he's in the midst of his recovery from surgery on his left, non-throwing shoulder and remains a couple weeks away from making light throws, but there's little worry about him being healthy by the time training camp kicks off in late July.
Recovery progressing, not throwing
Published 2023-04-27
Herbert's shoulder is roughly 75 percent healed, but he is still a few weeks away from beginning light throwing, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Herbert underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in late January and has been rehabbing since. He may miss OTAs, as the team is likely to play it safe with its franchise quarterback, but there is little concern that he'll be ready for the start of training camp. In the meantime, Herbert and the Chargers have been in talks on a long-term extension.
Uncertain for OTAs
Published 2023-04-17
Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said Herbert (shoulder) is "up in the air" for OTAs next month, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
Herbert underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder shortly after the Wild Card loss to the Jaguars. He was initially believed to be injured in Week 17. The two sides are also in the midst of long-term contract extension talks. Herbert should be healed in time for training camp later this summer.
In contract extension talks
Published 2023-03-28
The Chargers and Herbert are working toward a long-term contract extension for the QB, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN reports. "Those talks are ongoing," coach Brandon Staley noted Tuesday. "We're at the beginning of all that, but (we) all know how we feel about him."
While there's no concrete timetable for the team to get a lucrative extension with Herbert done, Staley emphasized that "the major takeaway is that Justin is going to be our quarterback, and we're so excited that he is leading our franchise." The 2020 first-rounder is slated to earn $4.23 million in the fourth season of his rookie deal, with Thiry adding that the Chargers are in line to exercise his fifth-year option. In the meantime, Herbert continues to recover from surgery on the labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder that he underwent Jan. 25, with his participation level once offseason workouts commence still to be determined.
Undergoes successful surgery
Published 2023-01-29
Herbert underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder Wednesday, but the team expects him to be cleared for the Chargers' offseason program, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, Herbert popped up on the injury report with a left shoulder injury following the Chargers' win over the Rams in Week 17. Herbert finished the contest with 212 yards and two touchdowns but was replaced by Chase Daniel in the fourth quarter. Herbert didn't appear limited by the issue during the regular-season finale against Denver or the wild-card loss to Jacksonville, as he finished with 273 yards in both games and had three total touchdowns during that stretch. The third-year quarterback was an alternate for the Pro Bowl, but he'll sit out the contest and set his sights on preparing for the 2023 regular season.
One touchdown in playoff loss
Published 2023-01-14
Herbert completed 25 of 43 passes for 273 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions in Saturday's 31-30 wild-card round loss to the Jaguars. He added three rushes for 12 yards.
It didn't lead to a particularly notable performance from a box score standpoint, but Herbert helped lead the Chargers to 27 points in the first half. His lone touchdown came on a nine-yard completion with Gerald Everett midway through the second quarter. Herbert did struggle in the second half -- along with the entire team -- as he averaged only 5.8 yards per attempt and failed to generate offense at key points in the game. Overall, Herbert put together another fairly strong season, though he failed to top 30 touchdowns for the first time in his career and averaged a career-low 6.8 yards per attempt across 17 games.
Heads into postseason on high note
Published 2023-01-08
Herbert completed 25 of 37 passes for 273 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed twice for minus-1 yard in the Chargers' 31-28 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. He also fumbled once but recovered.
Herbert and his fellow first-unit weapons played the majority of the game despite the Chargers' playoff positioning being locked in. The third-year signal-caller hit Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett with scoring tosses from 14 and three yards out, respectively, giving him eight multi-touchdown performances during the regular season. Mike Williams' early exit due to a back injury is naturally a concerning development ahead of Sunday's road wild-card matchup against the Jaguars, however, and certainly could affect Herbert's fantasy outlook for what already lines up as a difficult matchup.
Pair of touchdowns in blowout win
Published 2023-01-01
Herbert completed 21 of 28 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 31-10 win over the Rams.
Herbert and the Chargers moved the ball with ease against the Rams, scoring four total offensive touchdowns. His pair came on tosses of six and three yards in the middle of the third and late fourth quarters, respectively. Herbert managed to throw for multiple touchdowns for the first time in his last four games, and he could have had a bigger game if he hadn't been pulled with a comfortable lead early in the final quarter. It remains to be seen whether Herbert will start the Chargers' Week 18 matchup against the Broncos, which will likely be dependent on whether playoff seeding is at stake.