Justin Herbert has looked outstanding throughout Chargers training camp and just put together another impressive showing against the 49ers. With Mike McDaniel running the offense, could this finally be the season Herbert puts together his biggest year yet?
Justin Herbert has already put together one of the best starts to a quarterback career in NFL history, but there is a legitimate argument that his best season could still be ahead of him.
That argument has only gotten stronger throughout Los Angeles Chargers training camp.
Herbert has reportedly been one of the biggest standouts during camp, looking comfortable and in control while learning Mike McDaniel’s new offense. ESPN noted that Herbert has looked particularly comfortable in the new shotgun-based system, showing good timing and accuracy throughout practices.
Then came Tuesday’s joint practice with the 49ers.
Herbert reportedly had an excellent day against San Francisco, connecting on multiple deep passes and helping the Chargers offense consistently move the ball. The 49ers’ secondary struggled to contain him and the Chargers’ passing attack, with the performance providing another glimpse of what this offense could look like when the games actually count.
And that’s what makes this season so intriguing.
Herbert has always had the arm talent to make virtually every throw on the field. What he hasn’t always had is an offensive system that consistently maximizes those abilities. McDaniel’s arrival could change that.
The Chargers have spent the offseason building an offense designed to play faster and create more explosive opportunities. Herbert now has another year of experience with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, while the additions of David Njoku and rookie Brenen Thompson give him even more options to work with.
Thompson, in particular, has been making noise during camp. He reportedly caught multiple deep touchdowns against the 49ers during the joint practice, which only adds to the excitement surrounding the speed available to Herbert.
There is also something different about the way Herbert appears to be operating this offseason.
He doesn’t seem to be simply learning a new offense. He looks comfortable in it.
That could be extremely important.
The Chargers have had plenty of seasons where expectations were high, only for injuries or inconsistency to get in the way. This year, however, Herbert appears to have the type of offensive structure that could allow him to play more aggressively while still taking advantage of his strengths.
Of course, training camp success doesn’t guarantee anything once the regular season begins. The Chargers also suffered a major blow when center Tyler Biadasz went down with an ACL injury during the 49ers practice, leaving rookie Jake Slaughter in line to take over at center.
Still, it’s hard not to be excited about what Herbert could accomplish.
He has already thrown for more than 20,000 yards in his career and established himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. Now, with McDaniel calling the offense and Herbert looking as comfortable as he has all offseason, there is a chance we finally see the version of Herbert that Chargers fans have been waiting for.
Maybe his biggest season yet is coming.
