Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert shouldered the blame for the Chargers’ offensive struggles.
The Chargers were a playoff team last season and looked to take the next step by hiring former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. The Chargers sit at 0–6 largely because their offense is dead last in scoring.
Herbert told reporters Wednesday that he and players on the offense are to blame for not executing on the field.
“I’d say it’s not his fault; it’s our fault as an offense,” Herbert said when asked about the criticism McDaniel has received. “We have to do our job, and it’s not Mike’s fault. The guys are open, plays are being made, and it’s on us to run, to block, to catch, to throw. So, it’s on us as an offense.”
The Chargers rank 28th in total offense, averaging 287.2 yards per game, and 32nd in scoring, averaging just 15 points per game.
As Herbert pointed out, the issues are largely execution-based. Herbert has had 14 passes dropped, the fourth-most in the NFL. Those drops account for 8.1 percent of his passes, the second-highest in the league. He is tied for 26th in bad throw percentage, with 17.9 percent of his throws being errant; he is also ranked 26th in on-target throw percentage at just 71.7 percent.
“I would say that I think Mike has done an incredible job of getting people open, and it’s on us to go execute and make those plays. We haven’t done that as an offense, and we’re responsible for that, because as a team, we have a deal to hold up for the defense, who’s playing really well, and special teams,” Herbert said.
“So as an offense, we just have to come together, execute our stuff, and understand that it’s on us to be able to fix it, correct it, and move on past it. I think Mike and the entire offensive staff have done a great job. It’s up to us to now go make those plays in the game.”
Herbert has also suffered from significant pressure in the pocket. He is once again without left tackle Rashawn Slater, who injured his ankle earlier this month. Slater missed the entire 2025 season with a knee injury. The Bolts are also without backup tackle Trey Pipkins and guard Trevor Penning; center Tyler Biadasz is out for the year with a knee injury.
Herbert has been sacked 21 times, hit 23 times, and pressured 58 times. He said Wednesday that getting pressured is part of the game, but he needs to do more to get out of it.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on August 20, 2026. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“I think it’s just more so something that you can learn from and say that, ‘in this situation I should change protection, add a blocker, get the ball out quicker, change the play, and do stuff like that.’ I’m always doing my best to get the ball out quickly and avoid taking sacks because I know how detrimental that can be to our team. I think it’s always just a learning process and going through it.”
Herbert has also thrown 8 interceptions, tied for worst in the league. He acknowledged that those picks were bad decisions made in the heat of the moment, and he needs to learn from them.
“I think it’s just getting the ball to the open receiver and making plays,” he said.
“All those turnovers, I’m trying to make a play and obviously would love to do something differently, and that’s when you watch the film and say, ‘you know what, you can do this or you can do that.’ But during the time you make the decision, you go with your gut. A football game’s fast, and you’ve got to play fast, and you’ve got to not let it affect you.”
