Are There Any Players Taking the Field for the Los Angeles Chargers This Weekend?

Los Angeles Chargers head coach, Jim Harbaugh confirmed that we won’t get a look at Justin Herbert, despite being available, on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys in the team’s final preseason game of 2024.

Herbert returned to practice this week after missing the better part of three weeks dealing with an injury to his plantar fascia. His return has sent Harbaugh into religious ecstasy, saying he’s ‘heard the voice of angels.’ Yesterday, Harbaugh described the effect of Herbert’s presence at practice like in the movie Hoosiers , when Jimmy Chitwood returns to lead the team to a string of victories.

Chargers To Start Easton Stick

Despite his excitement, Harbaugh also said Easton Stick would remain the starting quarterback for the third straight week with Luis Perez in as backup. It is unclear if Perez will play in the second half, as he has done in the previous two weeks. Harbaugh said Perez would ‘be the backup in case Easton breaks a chin strap.’

Stick has played almost exactly half of the total offensive snaps. He has attempted 26 passes and has connected on exactly half of those for only 116 yards. Despite being the 84th most accurate quarterback, Stick isn’t pushing the ball often with an average depth of target of just 4.9 yards, 88th among QBs.

Perez has been a bit better, but still not sniffing average. In his last game, he completed 65 percent of his passes, going 13 of 20 for 78 yards. Neither quarterback has thrown a touchdown yet.

That said, it seems that Week 3 will also be Stick’s first game without the Chargers starting offensive line protecting him for the first two drives.

Harbaugh announced that he would be resting about 15 offensive players and 15 defensive players. This is a deviation from the Chargers’ previous game plans. Some presumptive starters, like Joe Alt have played around half the team’s reps. While other healthy starters haven’t played a down, like Khalil Mack and Gus Edwards.

More must-reads:

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• Chargers Defensive Linemen’s “Huge Jump” Is Exactly What The Team Needs For 2024