Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw two interceptions and lost a fumble as his team lost another game on Sunday, but head coach Jim Harbaugh remains confident in his quarterback.
Herbert shook off some hard hits and kept fighting, and after falling behind 27-6, the Chargers had three long scoring drives in the second half. The Chargers ultimately lost 30-23 to the Seahawks, falling to 0-4 on the season, but Harbaugh loved seeing Herbert competing until the end.
“It was one of the grittiest performances I’ve ever been associated with from a quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “When I say the fight out of our entire team was good, I think that’s epitomized by Justin. There’s no player I’ve ever coached that I respect more, or love the way he competes more, than Justin Herbert.”
Harbaugh, who said last month that he thinks Herbert will be remembered as the greatest quarterback of all time, said he remains an enthusiastic backer of Herbert’s.
“The grit, the competitiveness, the fight, the skill is what I admire,” Harbaugh said of Herbert. “We’ll take this team and keep fighting. Keep fighting, keep growing, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Harbaugh acknowledged that the four sacks Herbert took were a problem but said that’s on the rest of the team to protect him better.
“The quarterback taking the hits he did, there’s nobody I respect more, and protecting him is always at the front of the mind,” Harbaugh said.
The Chargers are not a good team right now, but Harbaugh does not believe that’s Herbert’s fault at all.
After the Chargers lost their third game of the season in three weeks, coach Jim Harbaugh gave offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a vote of confidence.
After the Chargers lost for the fourth time, plunging to 0-4 after a 30-23 game at Seattle, Harbaugh was more direct. Harbaugh told reporters on Sunday that McDaniel’s job is not in jeopardy.
The declaration came after Harbaugh glitched in response to the question. When he realized that he hadn’t provided a clear answer, he seemed to be startled.
“No, no, no,” Harbaugh said. “His job is not in jeopardy.”
With two more games to go (against the Broncos and the Chiefs) before a Week 7 bye, someone’s job needs to be in jeopardy if the Chargers don’t win one of them.
Beyond the possibility of going 0-6, the Chargers had high expectations for 2026. Instead, they’re all alone at the bottom of the AFC West, staring up at the 4-0 Chiefs.
Sunday started with five 0-3 teams in the NFL. It will end with five 0-4 teams in the NFL.
Each of the winless teams lost again on Sunday — the Dolphins, the Titans, the Texans, the Chargers, and the Buccaneers.
Only one team has ever recovered from 0-4 to make the playoffs. The Chargers did it in 1992.
The good news is that one of the 0-4 teams is destined to not fall to 0-5. The Titans host the Texans next weekend, in the Something’s Gotta Give Bowl.
It’s a deep hole, for all five winless teams. It helps to have a 17th game and seven playoff spots per conference.
For the Chargers and Texans, it’s a stunning slide. Both made the playoffs last year, and both were expected to do it again.
They still could. Getting that first win would be nice.
The Chargers lost left tackle Rashawn Slater (ankle), right tackle Joe Alt (neck), left guard Trevor Penning (concussion), cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) during Sunday’s game. They nearly overcame all of that, but playing with three backup offensive linemen ruined their comeback attempt.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu sacked Justin Herbert and forced a fumble that linebacker Derick Hall recovered with 54 seconds remaining. That allowed the Seahawks to escape with a 30-23 victory.
The Seahawks are 3-1, while the Chargers are 0-4.
Seattle led 20-6 at halftime and 30-13 with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter. But the Chargers outgained the Seahawks 138 to 11 and outscored them 10-0 in the fourth quarter to make it a game.
Herbert was 6-of-8 for 80 yards in the final quarter.
Chargers linebacker Troy Dye sacked Sam Darnold on third down with 1:49 left, giving Herbert the ball back at his own 11 with 1:42 left. The Chargers reached their own 29 before Nwosu ended Herbert’s hope of getting his 20th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime.
The Chargers outgained the Seahawks 301 to 286, but they killed themselves with four turnovers, including three by Herbert. The Seahawks converted the takeaways into 14 points.
It was a penalty-filled game, with the Seahawks getting 14 accepted penalties for 150 yards and the Chargers 16 for 130.
Darnold was 13-of-22 for 168 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Emanuel Wilson had 21 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. Rashid Shaheed had two carries for 33 yards and a touchdown and a catch for 20 yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished with five catches for 76 yards.
Herbert was 19-of-31 for 189 yards with a touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble. He also ran six times for 40 yards. Herbert took more than a dozen hits.
Omarion Hampton had nine carries for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey was questionable to play against the Seahawks.
He did play, getting two targets, but McConkey didn’t record a catch, and he won’t finish the game.
The team has ruled out McConkey with his foot injury.
They also have downgraded right tackle Joe Alt to out. He injured his neck late in the first half. Travis Burke has replaced Alt.
The Chargers scored their first touchdown on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to Kimani Vidal with 4:53 remaining in the third quarter. The Seahawks lead 27-13.
