As concerning as the Los Angeles Chargers‘ first loss was, the amount of contact quarterback Justin Herbert has dealt with could be all the more concerning.
Herbert endured seven sacks and 26 quarterback hits in the past two games. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed it after Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the New York Giants, which ended a three-game winning streak for the Chargers.
“He has taken too many,” Harbaugh told reporters on Sunday. “It’s very concerning. We’ve got to get better.”
“We got to put him in a better position. Don’t think he’s been in a good position,” Harbaugh added.
Herbert went 23-41 for 203 yards and a touchdown, versus two interceptions. He took two sacks and 12 quarterback hits, and Herbert ran with the ball only once on a 24-yard carry.
“It’s part of the game. Playing quarterback is you’re going to get hit,” Herbert told reporters regarding the hits. “You’ve got to be ready to get hit.”
Of course, it didn’t help that the Chargers lost offensive lineman Joe Alt to an ankle injury. Alt filled in for fellow offensive lineman Rashawn Slater, who injured his knee during training camp.
“Always tough to lose a guy like that,” Herbert said of Alt. “Especially moving him from right to left and the impact he has on our team. We’re obviously hoping for the best for him. He’ll do everything he can to be back out there as soon as he can.”
Justin Herbert: ‘We Had Our Shot’
New York built a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, but Herbert led a 10-play, 40-yard scoring drive to trim the lead to 10-3. The Giants responded with another field goal, and Herbert brought the Chargers back, 13-10, with an 8-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by his 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Quentin Johnston with 27 seconds left before halftime.
“We had our shot and we didn’t execute. That’s on us as an offense,” Herbert said. “I thought the defense battled all day, did a great job getting those stops.”
“Just on us to be able to execute and make sure we’re moving forward,” he added.
Chargers Limited on Offense in Second Half
In the second half, Herbert only led one more scoring drive — a three-play, 66-yard drive that concluded with a 54-yard touchdown run by running back Omarion Hampton. That cut the Giants lead to 21-18, but the Chargers couldn’t even get a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, amid two punts and running out of time at the end of the game.
“We work on it,” Harbaugh said. “We get better. Get back to work and regroup.”
The Chargers will face another tough pass rush in the Washington Commanders next. Besides protecting Herbert, it will behoove the Chargers to take care of the ball and cut down on penalties after committing two turnovers and 14 penalties in New York.
“I thought that was definitely tough by us. We can’t expect to win football games and turning the ball over like I did and to have penalties like that,” Herbert said. “We’re putting ourselves behind the chains and having a tough time coming back. We need to play better football than that.”
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