Retour
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has lost all seven of his starts, thrown twice as many interceptions as touchdown passes, and endured one of the worst stretches of his NFL career.
The Chargers will now face another difficult test against the Houston Texans defense on Sunday, which has given Herbert problems in the past.
Ahead of the game, Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. heaped praise on the Chargers quarterback, but his assessment got many fans wondering whether Anderson had watched the Chargers this season.
Herbert has struggled to find his rhythm, with his performances raising questions about his decision-making and overall comfort within the scheme. His struggles have also been reflected in his individual numbers, as his 61.0 PFN QB Impact grade currently ranks at the bottom of the league.
However, Anderson offered a very different assessment of the Chargers quarterback ahead of their upcoming game.
“He is still a really great quarterback in this league,” Anderson said. “.. He is still a very respectable player in this league. We have a ton of respect for him. We know what to expect a little bit. But Herbert, man, he’s playing out of his mind.”
Several fans struggled to reconcile his praise given Herbert’s performances this season.
“Has he watched any tape?” one exclaimed.
“This is objectively funnier than any slander…” a fan said.
There is little doubt that Herbert has established himself as an elite quarterback since entering the NFL. The Chargers QB has accumulated 26,218 passing yards and 168 touchdown passes throughout his professional career.
However, Herbert’s stats this season don’t look promising. He has completed 131 of 212 passes for 1,398 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Herbert has completed just 61.8% of his passes during the disappointing start, and fans continued poking fun at Anderson’s high praise for the Chargers’ QB.
“Can’t be serious,” another said.
“Can definitely tell (Nick) Saban coached him giving respect to the (expletive) of opponents,” a fan wrote.
“He watching 2023 highlights,” one added.
But Herbert’s struggles cannot be seen entirely in isolation. An early October report from The Athletic showed the significant amount of punishment he has absorbed since entering the league.
According to the report, no quarterback has taken more hits, sacks, or pressures than Herbert during that period. The offensive line has remained a concern in 2026, making life difficult for Herbert even as the team attempts to find solutions under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.