Justin Herbert is under pressure to deliver for the Los Angeles Chargers next season after falling at the first postseason hurdle last year. Despite Herbert’s game-winning ability, the quarterback struggled behind a porous offensive line last season.
With the 2026 kickoff right around the corner, the onus is now on the front office to deliver the goods and ensure Herbert remains upright as the Chargers look to mount a challenge under Jim Harbaugh’s watchful eye.
Ex-NFL Nose Tackle Blasts Chargers for Failing Justin Herbert
In a clip posted on X on Wednesday, former NFL nose tackle Breiden Fehoko blasted the Chargers’ front office for not signing enough offensive line depth to protect Herbert.
“The Chargers front office has neglected the most important position group for so many years,” Fehoko said.
“And whether people wanna call it out or whether people don’t wanna acknowledge it… The Chargers front office has neglected protecting Justin Herbert for his tenure as an NFL quarterback.
“If in a few years, Herbert decides, ‘You know what, I’m tired of this [expletive]. Tired of taking hits, I’m tired of picking myself off the ground and I wanna ride off into the sunset and retire…’ If Herbert decides he wants to retire and walk away from this poverty-[expletive] organisation, I won’t blame him.
“His front office has neglected to sign depth, quality players. If your front five gets hurt, who is gonna come into the game?”
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Fehoko blamed Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz for failing to sign depth to improve the team and rattled off several names that were available.
“These fans will say, ‘These Chargers, they’re cursed. Can’t we ever catch a break?’ You can catch a break,” Fehoko added. “You’ve got $100 million, Joe Hortiz, go sign somebody.
“You got Isaac Seumalo, Wyatt Teller, you had Ed Ingram, Braden Smith, Elgton Jenkins, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Tyler Linderbaum, and I can rattle off another list of guys who are quality signings, who didn’t even get a (expletive) offer. He had $100 million sitting in the bank, and he didn’t do (expletive)?”
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Last season, Herbert was one of the league’s most sacked quarterbacks, taking 54 sacks, just behind Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward (55) and Geno Smith (55). The Chargers, meanwhile, earned a PFN Offensive Line Impact score of 62.8 (No. 31 in the NFL).
The Chargers selected Herbert No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the former Oregon star quickly established himself as one of the league’s most productive quarterbacks. But in six NFL seasons, Herbert is yet to win a playoff game, a damning statistic.
Despite the Chargers’ playoff loss to the New England Patriots, Herbert had another productive season, tallying 3,727 passing yards on 66.4% completion, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, adding 498 rushing and two scores. He earned a PFN QB Impact score of 75.1 (No. 18 in the NFL).
