LA Chargers: Why Justin Herbert won’t start a single game in 2020

Justin Herbert won’t start a game for the LA Chargers in 2020.

The LA Chargers selected Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, marking a new era for the franchise as it moved on from Philip Rivers. Like Rivers, it was expected that Herbert would not be the Chargers’ full-time starter in 2020.

That honor is going to go to Tyrod Taylor. All signs pointed to Taylor being the starting quarterback during the offseason and that continues to be the case into training camp. This is exactly the kind of role that he had with the Cleveland Browns two years ago.

The team can implement a similar offensive scheme with Taylor that they will likely use moving forward with Herbert, capitalizing on Taylor’s mobility. Taylor does not have quite the same arm, but the mobility and “moving parts” portion of the offense will stay the same.

As we saw with Taylor in Cleveland, though, there is no guarantee that he will start all 16 games. Injuries happen, as do disappointing performances. If either of those things happens, many expect Herbert to get his chance.

However, I do not think that is the case. The only possible way I see Herbert starting a game is if the team is in playoff position (or in the playoffs) and Taylor gets hurt. Realistically, though, we probably won’t see Herbert start a game in 2020.

Here is why.