Justin Herbert still isn’t throwing footballs, and at some point, it’s fair to wonder whether there’s more to the story than mechanics.
According to ESPN’s Kris Rhim, Herbert once again did not throw during Monday’s OTA practice. The Chargers have publicly framed the decision as part of a footwork overhaul under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who is emphasizing quicker releases, anticipation throws, and cleaner timing throughout the offense.
That explanation makes sense on paper.
But Herbert has now gone through multiple OTA sessions without throwing, while also missing portions of the voluntary offseason program earlier this spring during a trip to Europe with girlfriend Madison Beer.
Those absences were approved by head coach Jim Harbaugh, but combined with the ongoing no-throw practices, they create an interesting backdrop.
Especially considering what Herbert endured in 2025.
The Chargers quarterback spent much of last season under siege behind a bruised and battered offensive line that struggled to keep defenders away from him. Herbert was sacked 54 times, absorbed 75 quarterback hits, and faced pressure on 40.7 percent of his dropbacks, one of the highest rates in the NFL.
The statistical decline followed.
His sack rate jumped from 7.1 percent in 2024 to 8.8 percent in 2025. His completion percentage under pressure dropped from 54.9 percent to 48.9 percent. His scramble rate increased as collapsing pockets became a weekly reality.
Officially, Herbert’s fractured hand was the only injury that generated significant attention. Unofficially, quarterbacks rarely emerge from a season involving 129 combined sacks and hits completely untouched.
That reality is what makes the current situation worth monitoring.
McDaniel may genuinely be rebuilding Herbert’s mechanics from the ground up. But it’s also reasonable to wonder whether some of the emphasis on footwork, timing, and avoiding unnecessary throwing volume is connected to allowing Herbert’s body to fully recover from the cumulative punishment of last season.
The Chargers haven’t indicated that Herbert is injured. Yet until the franchise quarterback starts throwing regularly, speculation will remain.
After all, quarterbacks who take that many hits rarely enter the next season feeling brand new.
