After receiving a contract that briefly made him the highest-paid quarterback of all time, Justin Herbert was largely the same player on tape in 2023 that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in most of his other seasons. Unfortunately, what surrounded Herbert on offense was not as strong. Several high-profile, season-ending injuries collapsed the Chargers season around him in addition to the adverse coaching situation.
20 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 3000+ yards in 13 games wasn’t going to win him awards, but it also became clear that the state of the offense, in addition to his own personal injuries affected what the potential production could’ve been.
Herbert played through fractures of his non-throwing hand throughout the season. Eventually, he’d be shut down after he injured his index finger on his throwing hand against the Broncos in Week 14. While he could’ve potentially played through it under some circumstances as opposed to opting for the surgery outright, the Chargers rapidly falling out of the playoff picture made the decision to sit him easy.
To kick off our offseason position preview series, we’re evaluating the quarterback group entering the offseason.