After starting on a good note, the Chargers have suffered two losses, a Justin Herbert's previous concerns resurface earlier than usual.

Jim Harbaugh’s Major Concern With Justin Herbert Has Reappeared Before Chargers Week 6 Clash

After three weeks of the NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/los-angeles-chargers-nfl/] were showing signs of being a strong playoff contender. After upsetting Patrick Mahomes [http://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/patrick-mahomes/] and Co. in the opener, they went for two straight victories and were at 3-0. But after that, the Chargers have tumbled back down to Earth. They have suffered two back-to-back losses, and what’s more concerning is that QB Justin Herbert’s postseason issue has resurfaced again. Justin Herbert has thrown three interceptions in the last two games. Two of these interceptions came in the last game against the New York Giants [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/new-york-giants/] and one in the last game against the Washington Commanders [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/washington-commanders/]. And the Chargers lost both of these games. This is a big concern for HC Jim Harbaugh, as Hebert is showing a pattern [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-chargers-justin-herbert-doesnt-hold-back-on-chargers-mistakes-following-jim-harbaughs-firm-request/] similar to the 2024 playoffs, where he threw 4 interceptions. In the last regular season, Herbert had just three interceptions, but he exceeded that total in a single playoff game. Herbert was picked off a career-high four times against the Houston Texans [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/houston-texans/]. This made him the first player in NFL history to throw more picks in a playoff game than in the regular season. Well, it looks like his interception issues have started haunting the team again, and it has worsened with back-to-back injuries. Justin Herbert [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-09-30T000807Z_1636024995_MT1USATODAY24361224_RTRMADP_3_NFL-KANSAS-CITY-CHIEFS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-CHARGERS-e1746690377638.jpg]Sep 29, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images The injuries in the offensive line have deteriorated Herbert’s protection, and this is also a contributing factor to Herbert’s increasing interceptions. Offensive Lineman Joe Alt suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 4 loss and was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders. Starting right guard Mekhi Becton was ruled out in the Week 4 game against the New York Giants because of concussion protocol. The injury news didn’t stop there. Left tackle Rashawn Slater has been ruled out for the entire season after tearing his patellar tendon. But it’s not only the protection being hampered by injuries; even Herbert’s running game will now be affected. That’s because running back Omarion Hampton suffered an ankle injury in week 5. All these injuries have contributed to Herbert’s last two game performances, and they have also brought a spike in his interception numbers. Yes, we can’t completely blame the injuries or Herbert for the interceptions. But this is one aspect that HC Jim Harbaugh will have to take into consideration moving forward. It’s necessary since Herbert will be facing the Miami Dolphins [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nfl/miami-dolphins/] with a thinner offensive room. TRIPLE BLOW FOR JUSTIN HERBERT BEFORE SHOWDOWN WITH DOLPHINS Ahead of the showdown against the Dolphins, Herbert has to deal with multiple setbacks. The two starting offensive tackles, Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins, and one wide receiver, Derius Davis, will not be available against the Dolphins. The two biggest losses for Herbert are Alt and Pipkins. Alt has been protecting since moving to the left side at the beginning of this season. This Sunday will mark his second missed game of the season. [https://www.staging.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-design-1-153.png]Credits: Social media via X @Ian Rapoport On the other side, Pipkins, the Chargers’ starting right tackle, has appeared in 89 games since 2019 and has started in 61. This Sunday, he will miss his first game of the season. Davis also played a big role in the Chargers’ offense the past two seasons. As of the 2025 season, he has appeared in two games and has yet to catch a pass. With two offensive lines [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-chargers-bradley-bozeman-jim-harbaugh-decides-on-justin-herberts-o-line-after-omarion-hampton-injury-news/] not available and one wide receiver target missing, Herbert will have to come up with his own winning formula against the Dolphins. Otherwise, Herbert will end up adding more numbers to his NFL 2025 stats’ interception column and the Chargers might even out there scoreboard. 

Aaditya Varu, an NBA Editor at EssentiallySports, brings you basketball’s biggest stories with the excitement of a true fan who has been following the league since his school years. He's all about the drama of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry’s unforgettable moments, especially that legendary 2016 Thunder showdown.  

Whether he's breaking down epic comebacks or the nitty-gritty of player stats, Aaditya’s writing is packed with energy and meant to get hoops fans talking.

Aaditya’s background includes working on e-learning content and hands-on research. Away from basketball debates, he’s often catching a football match, watching movies, or lost in a good book. For Aaditya, sports aren’t just a job; they’re part of his everyday life.

Aaditya Varu

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Herbert-Justin-Alamy-1-scaled-1.jpg

Home

EssentiallySports is a U.S.-based sports media platform built for modern fandom. We go beyond headlines to create storylines powered by athletes, fans, data, and culture, giving equal energy to the mainstream and the overlooked.

Harit Pathak

Suryansh Tibarewal

Jaskirat Arora

EssentiallySports

Saurabh Kumar is an NFL Writer at live coverage desk, where strategic depth meets passionate storytelling. An MBA graduate with 7 years of content creation experience he was drawn to the NFL by its relentless intensity and electrifying game format. Saurabh specializes in dissecting the game within the chaos, diving deep into team strategies and the psychological warfare that unfolds between the lines. His analytical mindset, sharpened by business acumen and storytelling expertise, transforms complex playbooks into compelling narratives about every audible and timeout. A published novelist ("Augmented 7th-The Journey of Last Hope") and certified exceptional writer, Saurabh brings literary flair to sports journalism. He believes the NFL's greatest stories aren't just in the touchdowns—they're in the strategic minds orchestrating every snap.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Saurabh-Kumar-150x150.png

Jim Harbaugh’s Major Concern With Justin Herbert Has Reappeared Before Chargers Week 6 Clash

Jim Harbaugh’s Major Concern With Justin Herbert Has Reappeared Before Chargers Week 6 Clash

Triple Blow for Justin Herbert Before Showdown with Dolphins