EL SEGUNDO — Day Two of the return of Justin Herbert unfolded much as Day One did. Herbert joined the Chargers’ quarterback rotation with Easton Stick and Luis Perez for the better part of Tuesday’s practice, the team’s 20th of 22 scheduled training camp sessions.
The only difference was Herbert participated in some but not all of the 11-on-11 drills.
“There’s definitely a difference just going against one of the best quarterbacks in the game right now,” Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. said of welcoming Herbert back after a layoff of more than two weeks because of a plantar fascia injury in his right foot. “You can feel it. Everything is different.”
The Chargers with Herbert at quarterback are a far, far different team than with Stick or Perez playing the position. Stick started their first two preseason games and, although he improved from Week 1 to Week 2, there was absolutely nothing dynamic about his throws in two first-half appearances.
Neither he nor Perez could fashion a touchdown drive. The Chargers’ only scores have come via four field goals from Cameron Dicker, including three during their 13-9 loss to the Rams last weekend. Dicker also had a 58-yard field goal in a 16-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 10.
Even though Herbert was unlikely to play against the Rams or Seahawks even had he been 100% healthy – and he isn’t expected to play in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys – his mere presence on the practice field has uplifted the Chargers’ spirits over the past two days.
Coach Jim Harbaugh talked Monday about hearing angels singing.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Tuesday he saw an apparition.
“I can’t explain it, but there was a moment,” Roman said, smiling.
Adopting a more serious tone, Roman said he was pleased to see Herbert again.
“He’s been mentally engaged the whole time, working extremely hard, on top of everything, just wanting to get back out there,” Roman said. “So, it’s a good step. It’s all done within the medical protocol that’s put forth. So, he’s definitely taking steps, and it was good to have him out there and see him run the show.”
Herbert will have the next two days to continue taking steps, but then training camp comes to an end with the exhibition finale on Saturday, and Week 0 begins next week. The Chargers will have two weeks to prepare for their regular-season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 8 at SoFi Stadium.
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There is little time for Herbert to ease back into the practice sessions, although the Chargers don’t seem to be rushing him back into the fold. For instance, he participated only in 7-on-7 drills Monday, standing on the sideline during 11-on-11 drills. Tuesday, he participated in 7-on-7s plus a few selected 11-on-11s.
“Everything ratchets up in Week 0, everything,” Roman said. “The real game plan comes out. All that stuff. It’s a heightened sense of everything. Right now, there is a heightened sense of building our team offensively. Playing winning football. All the details. Constantly chasing all those things.”
Assuming everything goes to plan and Herbert suffers no setbacks to his foot between now and Sept. 8, then the questions about the Chargers’ backups and their lack of success in exhibition play become less important. What matters is whether Herbert connects with his receivers, tight ends and running backs.
“He’s picking up right where he left off,” Roman said of Herbert, who was sidelined since Aug. 1, when the Chargers announced his injury. “He’s his own harshest critic. There are always things to be critical of, little details to work on and whatnot, but, man, he looked pretty darn good.”
