COSTA MESA — Justin Herbert’s first NFL game as a spectator and player happened simultaneously in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chargers’ rookie quarterback wasn’t near an NFL stadium growing up in Eugene, Oregon.
Herbert expected to be a spectator for his second game, but much to everyone’s surprise, he was named the last-second starter versus the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
“Unfortunately, my mom (Holly) missed the first couple of snaps because I don’t think anyone was expecting that to happen,” Herbert said Friday. “But they (his family) were really proud of me.”
It was a memorable debut with impressive throws and historic numbers, but Herbert has moved on. He won’t surprise the Carolina Panthers when he steps on the field Sunday at SoFi Stadium for his second start.
Herbert will look to prove his debut wasn’t a fluke and that he should be the permanent starter for the Chargers.
Many Chargers fans think Herbert should already be the starter, and perhaps some of his teammates do too, but it’s not up to them. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn is the one who gets to decide, and as of now, Tyrod Taylor is his starting quarterback. Herbert is just the backup filling in.
Taylor hasn’t fully recovered from his punctured lung that reportedly occurred after a team doctor mishandled a pain-killing injection meant for Taylor’s cracked ribs. The accident happened minutes before the Chargers faced the Chiefs, with Taylor being taken to the hospital after having difficulty breathing.
Lynn doesn’t want Taylor to lose his job because of the medical team’s mistake. But that has put Lynn in a tough situation.
The Chargers struggled offensively with Taylor as the starter in Week 1 and needed a missed last-second field goal to escape Cincinnati with a victory. The Chargers lost in Week 2, but faced a much better opponent and had nearly 500 yards with Herbert as the starter.
It’s a small sample size, but Herbert proved to be the better quarterback. Lynn said he noticed many mistakes from Herbert, including multiple overthrows and a costly interception against the Chiefs.
Lynn said Herbert will benefit from having a week of preparation and taking the bulk of the first-team reps. The Panthers’ defense lacks star players and experience, but they at least now have tape on Herbert.
What happens if Herbert is prepared for the defensive adjustments and has another standout performance? That might not be enough to change Lynn’s mind. But the screams from fans on social media will get louder and perhaps a locker-room divide will ensue because of the quarterback controversy.
Lynn said he hasn’t considered placing Taylor on injured reserve, which would have sidelined him for at least three games. Lynn referred to Taylor as week-to-week, but the severity of Taylor’s chest and ribs injuries sounds as if he belongs on injured reserve.
Maybe Lynn wants to give Taylor the possibility of returning sooner than expected to retain his starting job.
“Going forward, he’s going to have to prove, just like all of us, that, ‘Hey, I deserve to be in this spot,’” Chargers running back Austin Ekeler said Monday about Taylor. “There are always people behind us or in front of us. … I’ll say right now Tyrod is still in the helm.”
If Taylor is back next week and Herbert is coming off back-to-back stellar games, all eyes will be on Lynn.
Obviously, it’s not a guarantee Herbert will light up the Panthers’ struggling defense Sunday. But there have been many twists to this quarterback dilemma in the past week. Another surprising turn could be on the horizon.
INGRAM DOUBTFUL FOR SUNDAY
Defensive end Melvin Ingram was surprisingly listed as doubtful on the final injury report for Week 3.
Lynn said Ingram felt soreness in his knee and decided to keep the star edge rusher out of Friday’s practice. Ingram sustained the injury versus the Chiefs, but was a full participant in practices the past two days.
Right guard Trai Turner (groin) was another surprise on the injury report, but Lynn said there’s “no doubt” Turner plays versus the Panthers. Turner didn’t practice Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday.
Along with Taylor, defensive tackle Justin Jones (shoulder) and linebacker Asmar Bilal (calf) are out against the Panthers.
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (groin) were given questionable designations.
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