The Chargers are enduring one of their worst seasons this century. Los Angeles will enter Week 9 as the only team that hasn't won a game.
They are 0-7 and have shown few signs of turning this season around, and Justin Herbert is at the center of it. Herbert is off to the worst start of his career, so much so that NFL executives are questioning if he'll ever be able to turn it around this season.
"He doesn't seem comfortable in the offense," an AFC exec said. "I don't know that it's a great schematic fit for his talents. He's throwing a lot of picks where he simply isn't seeing defenders. I don't know how it gets better."
An NFL defensive coach said the other pieces on the offense have led to Herbert's disastrous start.
"The entire team has been
devastated around him," said an NFL defensive coach who recently prepared for him. "The O-line is a mess, the running game is bad, and the skill guys aren't very good. It's nearly impossible to have success with that setup."
Prior to the 2026 season, the proof was in the pudding with Herbert. While he has yet to achieve any team or individual success, his talent is undeniable.
The Pro Bowl quarterback had all the tools to be in the MVP conversations year in and year out, and many thought that would be the case this season under Mike McDaniel. Instead, everything has gone wrong.
Herbert is on pace for career lows in passing yards (if he plays in all 17 games), touchdown passes and completion percentage.
With the Chargers seemingly going nowhere, Herbert's future with the organization has also become a major question mark.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers' Justin Herbert receives concerning assessment from NFL executive
