LA Chargers: Justin Herbert and six Week 2 overreactions

In Week 2, Justin Herbert stunningly got the start at the last minute for the LA Chargers.

In an absolutely thrilling game for fans who have been accustomed to one quarterback for well over a decade, the LA Chargers fell in a nail-biter to the Kansas City Chiefs.

With Justin Herbert getting the start and playing well and the defense putting forth a top-five effort, there is plenty to react to. Without further ado, let’s get to the Los Angeles Chargers Week 2 overreactions.

Overreaction #1: Justin Herbert is ready, and he should start in Week 3.

For weeks and weeks, most of us at Bolt Beat, myself included, have been stressing the importance of giving Justin Herbert time to get ready to play in the NFL to avoid stunting Herbert’s growth.

For weeks and weeks, it appears that most of us were wrong about this concern.

Let me be clear – Herbert made several mistakes, some of which were performance-based and some of which were based on mental errors. However, the main reason that I wanted Herbert to spend the majority of the season on the bench was that I was afraid that Herbert’s inability to read defenses in college would lead to severe indecision at the first sign of trouble in the NFL, resulting in stunted growth.

At the beginning of his first start, Herbert got things rolling quickly. Surprisingly, Herbert progressed quickly through his progressions and found the open man routinely.

However, he later threw a costly pick in a situation where a scramble would have easily gotten the first down.

While that poor decision was a concern, Herbert’s response to that poor decision was an absolutely pivotal moment in his development. This was the point at which Herbert would either fold or put his mistake behind him and grow.

In response, Herbert played an important role in a long drive that culminated in a field goal.

While the drive could have ended better, Herbert avoided the indecision and poor decision making that frequently spells doom for a young rookie.

More hiccups and some bad games will come in the future for Herbert. Still, by passing the first important test of his career, the Chargers can now confidently choose a starter based on performance alone without being concerned about stunting the growth of their quarterback of the future.

Now, by simply comparing the performance of Tyrod Taylor in Week 1 to Justin Herbert in Week 2, we should arrive at the man who should be the starter in Week 3.

This simple comparison demonstrates that it is time; Justin Herbert is ready to start for the Los Angeles Chargers, and he should be the starter moving forward. Whether or not he will be the starter may not be decided until closer to game time, as Anthony Lynn stated Tyrod Taylor would start if he is 100% healthy.

Verdict 1: Not an overreaction