Justin Herbert has taken a lot of hits this season, yet he hasn’t been given a single roughing the passer penalty, leaving Jim Harbaugh frustrated with the lack of calls.
“Does it sound like I’m complaining? Maybe? I could be,” Harbaugh said. “I think he doesn’t get some of those calls when they should be called.”
Harbaugh believes Herbert’s 6-foot-6 and 236-pound stature is working against his favor, comparing him to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
“It’s called most times, you know? Body weight on top of a quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “It’s incredible. It’s almost Shaq-like.”
Herbert was sacked six times last Sunday in the Chargers’ victory over the Browns, and Harbaugh recalled one play when Herbert completed a 10-yard pass to Ladd McConkey and Myles Garrett put his whole bodyweight on the signal-caller.
Harbaugh said the amount of hits Herbert has taken this season is concerning.
“I think about it probably more than I think about anything, and I think about a lot of things,” Harbaugh added. “His protection? His safety? There’s probably nothing I think about more than that.”
The team has submitted plays to the NFL for clarification.