The Chargers dropped to 0-7 with a 24-9 home loss to the Rams on Sunday, and the conversation around quarterback Justin Herbert’s ball security reached a new level.
Herbert completed 24 of 32 passes for 257 yards but threw two interceptions and now leads the NFL with 10 picks through seven games. He has thrown one in every contest this season, while posting just five touchdowns.
Afterward, head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked whether he had considered benching Herbert. His answer was direct: “No.” Instead, he framed the issues as a collective problem rather than an individual one.
“First of all, it’s a team effort. We’re gonna look at the film. We’re gonna address our issues where we can get better, and that’s just keep working. That’s highly motivated
and dedicated to getting this right,” Harbaugh said. “We’re the only ones that have had the opportunity to change it, to fix it, and that’s what we’re gonna do.”
Herbert himself was straightforward about the numbers. “That’s part of the game, and it’s the unfortunate part of where we’re at. And I’d love to have played better and made better decisions, but, you know, I haven’t, and that’s something I have to work on and continue to get better at,” he told reporters after the game.
Herbert's two interceptions led directly to 10 points for the Rams. The second pick was a low point, as he completely missed underneath defender Trent McDuffie and threw the ball directly into coverage on a pass he intended for tight end Charlie Kolar.
Herbert entered 2026 with some of the lowest turnover rates of his career. From 2020 through 2025, he turned the ball over on just 1.7% of offensive plays. That rate has climbed significantly this year.
The Chargers' offense has failed to score a touchdown for two consecutive weeks. Until Herbert cleans up the giveaways, the team's search for its first victory will remain difficult to obtain.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' Jim Harbaugh defends Justin Herbert amid league lead in interceptions
