The focus for the quarterback has been more about footwork and less about throwing a football to his teammates like it was midseason.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the team’s OTA practice May 27, 2026, in El Segundo. was throwing as if it were midseason, as if something more was at stake than a simple offseason workout.
Throw after throw. Short ones. Medium ones. Long ones.
Hundreds of them. This spring has featured a new and different approach, a “team effort,” as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh referred to it Tuesday, on the first day of minicamp. Herbert has focused more on his footwork and less on actually winding up and throwing a football to his teammates. Actually, until Tuesday’s mandatory practice, he had been doing a great deal of winding up, but he hadn’t been doing as much throwing of a football.
Instead, Herbert took quicker-than-usual drop-backs and then whipped a green, weighted ball in a throwing motion without releasing it. Harbaugh said the change was in part because the Chargers wanted Herbert to concentrate on his footwork during spring workouts, part ofIt also was a way to save on the wear and tear on Herbert’s arm, with the Chargers more interested in him throwing in midseason form at midseason, according to Harbaugh.
After all, the Chargers don’t actually play a game that counts until “Just work harder and smarter, yeah, both of those two things,” Harbaugh said.
“Some guys, you’ve just got to say, ‘Whoa,’ and some guys you’ve got to say, ‘Sic ’em. ’ You’d rather have the guys you’ve got to say, ‘Whoa. ’ Justin throwing in midseason form in April, in May, in June has been the way we’ve done it before, hundreds of balls per practice, so we’re trying a different way this year. I think it’s smart.
”Training camp is more than one month away, but so many starting positions appear to be locked down that it’s pretty easy to pick out the one obvious battle that looms on offense come late July. It’s at left guard, and it could be a real doozy fought among several participants. Rashawn Slater is a mortal lock to start at left tackle. Tyler Biadasz will start at center, flanked by right guard Cole Strange and right tackle Joe Alt.
The question is who gets the start at left guard after Zion Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns in the offseason? , a free agent signee from the Detroit Lions, could be the favorite going into camp, but Harbaugh made it clear the job is open. Trevor Penning, acquired at midseason in 2025, could be in the mix. , a second-round draft pick who played center at the University of Florida, could, too.
Trey Pipkins III also could shift from tackle to guard.
“Raging on at left guard,” Harbaugh said when asked about the upcoming camp battle. “Very good competition at that position, for a starting job at that position. When the pads come on, those things will be decided. … There’s a lot of options.
”Wide receiver Quentin Johnston smiled broadly when asked about McDaniel’s plan for Herbert to deliver short passes to his targets, allowing them to run with the ball. It was Johnston’s forte while playing at TCU and one of the reasons the Chargers picked him in the first round in 2023. Harbaugh said Penning and wide receiver Ladd McConkey were “working through something” this spring, which was why their participation was limited during OTAs.
Penning was a full participant Tuesday, but McConkey was limited to individual drills because of a left hamstring strain. McConkey said McDaniel has showed him video clips of all sorts of plays from his days as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach. But the one clip he didn’t show was the one of McConkey torching the Dolphins’ secondary, setting up the winning field goal in the
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