ESPN's Chris Mortensen hears that the Chargers medical team has “encouraged” QB Justin Herbert to take the “long view” when deciding whether to play through his rib injury today. "The cartilage injury can last several weeks or several months," Mortensen adds. "Rib protector can’t help with rotation when Herbert twists and throws." It sure sounds like the team docs are hoping Herbert doesn't play vs. Jacksonville today.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert went 40 for 47 passing in Sunday's win over the Vikings, racking up 405 yards and 3 TDs. (WR Keenan Allen threw for the team's other TD.) L.A. dropped back on 75.8% of offensive plays, clearly committing to the pass from the start. Herbert had 30 pass attempts by halftime, vs. seven total run plays for the team in that time. Look for this team to continue leaning pass going forward, though likely not to the degree most weeks that it did against the Vikings.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert completed 27 passes on 41 attempts for 305 passing yards with 2 TD and no INTs in Week 2’s OT loss vs. the Titans. How the Chargers continue to find themselves in such close games on a consistent basis is beyond us. Fortunately, that’s more of a problem for real-life football. Even without RB Austin Ekeler (ankle), fantasy managers saw another 20+ point game from Herbert in what will likely be his second-straight top-12 finish. He'll look to continue his success next week vs. the Vikings.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert finished Week 1 with just 228 passing yards and 1 TD. A short-range toss to TE Donald Parham accounted for his only passing score. Herbert added a second score on a QB sneak, but there wasn’t much to speak of otherwise. Keenan Allen led the way with 6 grabs for 76 yards. Mike Williams — who left briefly for a concussion check — tallied just 45 yards on 4 catches. And Round 1 rookie Quentin Johnston mixed in for only 9 yards on 2 receptions. Overall, a slow start isn’t a total surprise given the presence of new OC Kellen Moore (plus a talented Miami defense). Keep expectations high for Sunday’s matchup at Tennessee.

Chargers HC Brandon Staley says QB Justin Herbert is having the best training camp he's had in Staley's three seasons with the team. Staley is giving a lot of the credit to new OC Kellen Moore. "He makes the game easy for the quarterback," Staley said of Moore. "He really allows the quarterback to play fast, and what we're really trying to do is get Justin to play fast and be aggressive -- not just, like, in the deep part of the field, which is what everyone wants to focus on. It's that, of course, but it's the way that you command the play before the ball's even [thrown]. And now that you've developed this trust and chemistry with your group on the outside, you can really be on the attack." A big talent with a strong pass-catching corps and upgraded play-caller, Herbert is one of our favorite QB targets in fantasy drafts.

According to multiple reports, the Chargers have agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension with QB Justin Herbert. This move will keep the franchise centerpiece in Los Angeles through the 2029 season, and the $218.7 million in guaranteed money ranks second behind only Browns QB Deshaun Watson among the most lucrative contract in the NFL. Herbert took a bit of a step back in 2022, finishing 9th in Pro Football Focus passing grade. Some of that can be attributed to the fractured rib cartilage he picked up early in the season and the fact that WRs Mike Williams and Keenan Allen didn't play a single complete game together due to their own injuries. We have faith that the Chargers will bounce back in 2023 under new OC Kellen Moore, with Herbert placed highly in our current QB rankings assuming health for all. Next up on the list of young franchise QBs waiting for a long-term deal? Bengals QB Joe Burrow.