We still do not know who will be starting at quarterback for the LA Chargers in Week 5.
The LA Chargers‘ quarterback situation is one of the most compelling storylines in the league this year.
Justin Herbert was thrust into the starting role in Week 2 after team doctors accidentally punctured Tyrod Taylor‘s lung while administering a pain-killing injection. Herbert has played excellent in his three starts but has gone 0-3 in the process.
Taylor, on the other hand, was rather mediocre in Week 1 but the team got a win, albeit with some help from Cincinnati Bengals kicker Randy Bullock. Taylor never got the chance to lose his job, and for that reason, Anthony Lynn has not yet committed to naming a starter once Taylor is healthy.
We still do not know if Taylor is going to be ready to go in Week 5 but if he is, it actually does make sense to start him now. I know, I know, Justin Herbert is the more talented quarterback and increases the team’s chances of winning. I agree completely.
It is more than just who is the better quarterback.
Why starting Tyrod Taylor in Week 5 makes sense for the LA Chargers:
It all has to do with the opponent — the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints have not looked like their past selves in recent weeks but they are still the Saints and are over touchdown favorites in this game. The Chargers are on the road, granted without fans, making it an even tougher matchup for the Bolts.
It does not really matter who starts at quarterback in this game, I would argue that the Chargers have a slim chance of winning this contest. The fact of the matter is that the defense is simply too banged up to compete with the Saints.
Yes, Drew Brees‘s arm is not what it used to be but all signs are pointing to Michael Thomas being back and that opens Pandora’s Box. We saw how bad the team struggled against Tom Brady and the banged-up Buccaneers, I do not think it is much different against the Saints.
I could be wrong, but I really do think the Chargers lose this game either way. Thus, I would rather have Tyrod start (if he can, of course) and lose this game to essentially lose his job and get that ordeal out of the way.
Then Justin Herbert gets the chance to start against the New York Jets and quarterback the team during the weakest part of the schedule. I would rather have Herbert in those games to actually win them than have Tyrod under center and see the offense fall flat and be in close games, similar to what they did in Cincinnati.
Yes, it is not a guarantee that Herbert wins those games, but I do think the odds of winning those games are much higher than with Taylor. And after a 1-4 start, every game matters.
I would much rather see Taylor start Week 5 and lose to make way for Herbert than Herbert to start Week 5, lose, and have the blame fall on him and then Taylor starts Week 6 against the Jets.
That just prolongs the whole process. Yes, there are benefits in Herbert sitting behind a veteran, but he has already shown that he can at least handle the NFL. There should not be any worries in that department.
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Taylor will start for the LA Chargers again this season. Hopefully, if he is healthy, it will be just one start against the New Orleans Saints.