Los Angeles Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert has impressed since being thrust into action in Week 2 — in ways beyond his arm talent.
Herbert measures at 6-foot-6 and 236 pounds, and he runs better than you might think for his size. Late in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s 39-29 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, cornerback Tre Herndon learned that the hard way when he found himself on the wrong end of a bulldozing move from Herbert at the end of a scramble.
Herbert led the team in rushing with 66 yards, including a 31-yard carry that marked the franchise's longest run by a QB since 1988. He also threw for 347 yards on 27-for-43 passing with three touchdowns. He has 12 passing TDs and three picks on the season, with a QB rating of 108.1.
Herbert's finish may have fired up his teammates, but his head coach wasn't particularly amped by the display of physicality from the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft.
“He put his shoulders down and he ran over someone,” Lynn said, via Gilbert Manzano of the Los Angeles Daily News. “The sideline kind of erupted when he did that. That’s the way he leads sometimes. But in this league, I want you to slide. … I don’t want to put Justin in a situation where he may have to run the football too many times. I don’t like my quarterback getting hit.”
In general, Herbert has kept his running in check through his first five games. Not including kneel-downs, he's carried the ball 22 times for 121 yards.
“That’s probably the last time I’ll do that,” Herbert said about lowering his shoulder. “I got a couple high-fives here and there, but I gotta be smarter.”
Justin Herbert's nine carries on Sunday were his most in a game since he played for the Oregon Ducks. Lynn guessed about half of his runs were by design.
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