The Los Angeles Chargers’ 21-18 defeat to the New York Giants was more than just their first loss of the season—it was a sobering reflection on the state of the offensive line. Quarterback Justin Herbert was hit 12 times and pressured on nearly half of his dropbacks, according to Kris Rhim. Despite being sacked only twice, Herbert faced constant duress that dictated the rhythm of the offense.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t hold back when asked about the punishment his quarterback has absorbed in recent weeks. “He’s taken too many [hits],” Harbaugh said via the team’s website. “Very concerning. Go back and look, and we got to get better. We got to put him in a better position. Don’t think he’s been in a good position.”
Joe Alt Injury Adds To Pile Up Up Front
Is Jim Harbaugh The Real Life Ted Lasso?
The Chargers’ offensive front has been decimated by injuries. Left tackle Rashawn Slater was lost for the season during the summer with a torn patellar tendon. Right guard Mekhi Becton sat out against New York due to a concussion. Rookie Joe Alt, who shifted from right to left tackle to replace Slater, left Sunday’s game in the first quarter with a high-ankle sprain. His backup, Austin Deculus, struggled badly against a relentless Giants pass rush.
Once Alt exited, the Giants’ defensive front had free reign. Edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and company consistently collapsed the pocket, creating a historic day for New York’s defense and leaving Herbert to absorb hit after hit.
Herbert Stays Grounded, But Acknowledges Reality
Herbert, while bruised, downplayed the struggles after the game. “Yeah, they’re really good. You know, we knew that going into it, and we just didn’t execute,” Herbert said. “That’s the part about the NFL, you’re gonna get a lot of good guys that you’re going up against. And we didn’t play the way we needed to today.”
He acknowledged that being under fire is part of his role. “Playing quarterback is, you’re gonna get hit. Thankfully, we got a great training staff, and we’re gonna do everything we can to get back out there.”
Looking Ahead
The Chargers sacked rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart five times, but that defensive highlight couldn’t mask the alarming trends on offense. With Washington up next in Week 5, Los Angeles must quickly address its protection issues—or risk seeing its star quarterback endure more punishment.
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