Justin Herbert is on pace for a dubious career high, having been sacked 20 times through the Chargers’ first seven games of the season. He’s handing the ball off to a third-string running back, Kimani Vidal, who didn’t record his first carry until Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.
The Chargers’ injury-depleted defense is down to only three healthy defensive linemen, with Otito Ogbonnia joining Da’Shawn Hand on injury reserve this week. A future Hall of Fame pass rusher, Khalil Mack, played only 12 snaps during his return from injured reserve last week.
Another future Hall of Fame candidate, wide receiver Keenan Allen is only seven receptions shy of the franchise’s all-time record with 948. It would appear to be only a matter of time before Allen ties and passes Antonio Gates, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame earlier this year.
All of which, plus a lot more, served as the Chargers’ backstory as they prepared to face the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. It’s a chance for a course correction on a season that’s spiraled in a different direction after they started with a three-game sweep of their AFC West foes.
Since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos and raising expectations around the NFL, the Chargers have been on a less-than-stellar stretch in which their only victory in their past four games was a miraculous, last-minute win over the Miami Dolphins.
Whatever momentum the Chargers established during their early-season victories has ground to a halt. Herbert has been exceptional in the face of near-constant pressure behind a slowly improving makeshift offensive line because of injuries to the team’s top three tackles.
The good news for the Chargers is that left tackle Joe Alt might play Thursday.
“That’s the plan,” said Alt, sidelined the past three-plus games because of an ankle injury suffered in the first quarter of the Chargers’ loss Sept. 28 to the New York Giants, which started their string of lackluster results, including a 38-24 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts. “It’s always the plan.”
Herbert has praised the O-line’s willingness to battle and protect him as best as they possibly can, which hasn’t been great in the final analysis. After all, only four NFL quarterbacks have been sacked more times than Herbert, and no one has absorbed more than the 62 hits he’s received.
“They’ve done a great job,” Herbert said. “They’re communicating at a very high level. ‘Boze’ (center Bradley Bozeman) is getting them in the right calls. I think they’ve done an incredible job battling. It’s a very tough task playing offensive line. They’ve given me plenty of time to get the ball off.”
Herbert has passed for 1,913 yards, tops in the league, with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Najee Harris’ season-ending Achilles tendon injury and Omarion Hampton’s sprained ankle that sent him to injured reserve have meant Vidal has been handed the ball and an enhanced role after it looked as if he’d spend the season watching from the sidelines.
Allen has been a reliable target in his first season back with Herbert and the Chargers after spending last season with the Chicago Bears. Allen leads the Chargers with 44 catches and 435 yards receiving. His four touchdown receptions trail Quentin Johnston by one.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers’ past three opponents have left scorched earth in the running game. Defending the run was one of the Chargers’ strengths last season while giving up a league-low 17.7 points per game en route to an 11-6 record in Jim Harbaugh’s first season as coach.
Running backs Jonathan Taylor of the Colts rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns last Sunday, De’Von Achane of the Dolphins had 128 yards and two touchdowns Oct. 12, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt of the Commanders gained 111 yards and scored two touchdowns Oct 5.
The Vikings aren’t one of the league’s top rushing teams, having gained 623 yards in only 142 carries compared to the Chargers’ 778 yards on 160 attempts, but Minnesota quarterback Carson Wentz is coming off a game in which he passed for 313 yards in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“First of all, staying together,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said of improving defensively. “It’s going to take staying together. Get back to the fundamentals. Get back to what got us here, not everybody feeling like they have to make that big splash play, and get back to the basics.”
Vikings at Chargers
When: 5:15 p.m. Thursday
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/radio: Amazon Prime/KFI 640 AM; 105.5/94.3 FM