Los Angeles Chargers news: Panic meter reaches new high with Justin Herbert

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers throws a pass during warmups prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 27, 2026 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s not just the

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What is the story about?

It’s not just the Chargers fan base that’s starting to freak out about Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense.

ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano got together to discuss the latest around the NFL and part of that was discussing the panic meter for several underperforming quarterbacks. Of course, Justin Herbert was among that small group that included Cam Ward and Drake Maye.

With more picks than touchdown passes through three games, Herbert’s too easy of a selection not to be discussed.

“Jumping to Herbert, his play is inexcusably bad, but he’s in Year 7 with 98 career starts, with most of those played at a high level,” says Fowler. ‘‘He has proof of concept more so than Maye or Ward. The jumbled offense under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel hasn’t helped. And I’m not exactly sure where they turn next.”

Graziano’s opinion unfortunately did not differ much from Fowler.

“Yikes. Talk about disconnect between player and scheme. Everything looks “difficult and exhausting” for Herbert, using the words of one evaluator I spoke to last week. There was so much talk in the offseason about how Herbert and his immense natural talent would flourish under McDaniel, but it’s clearly not clicking. A fresh wave of offensive line injuries that happened as the season was getting underway certainly didn’t help. But the run game can’t get going, the receivers haven’t taken the jumps we were promised, and Herbert has looked confused and overwhelmed by whatever it is he’s being asked to do out there.”

“A lot of people have theories on what the Chargers need to do in terms of simplifying things so they can just start having success to build on. But there’s also concern that the personnel doesn’t fit what the offense is built to do, which might be difficult to overcome.”

Despite it all, Fowler believes the old Herbert is still in there somewhere.

‘‘Look, Herbert has excelled as a true pocket passer, whereas McDaniel thrived having Tua Tagovailoa throw with anticipation to spots. Either Herbert struggles to do both or McDaniel isn’t putting him in a position to show that he can. I still think Herbert has good football in him, but that’s harder to sell by the week. And your point about mismatched personnel is a good one.”

And now for today’s links.