Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh addressed the media for the first time since the NFL Draft on Wednesday. A big question on the minds of Chargers fans and football media was whether or not Justin Herbert would be at voluntary OTAs. Herbert missed the last two practices that were open to the media in phase two of the offseason.
In past offseasons, Herbert truly had attended nearly all (if not all) offseason practices that were voluntary or mandatory. While it's understandable that a quarterback in year seven wouldn't necessarily have to be there before OTAs or minicamp, it was uncharacteristic for the Chargers star.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert is back at practice. Exhale.
Herbert was seen publicly at his girlfriend Madison Beer's European tour. The European leg of her tour ends on May 31st. So there were questions about whether Herbert would be in the building for the first session of OTAs.
And we can now say with confidence that Herbert is back in the building. At Wednesday's media availability, Harbaugh confirmed the star QB's availability for OTAs. Here's Harbaugh's full comments on Herbert being back at practice:
"I was happy he went to support Madison [Beer] on her music tour. Madison supports him at the football games. He told me he wasn't gonna be here for those two weeks and my first reaction was, 'do you need a ride to the airport?'"
"He's just been somebody that is just here all the time. There's times I've wanted to shoo him out of the building. He's at every voluntary, every non-voluntary workout. Same guy that broke his hand and he was here the next day practicing. The next game, stiff arming guys. Yeah, I was happy. Good balance." - Jim Harbaugh
None of this necessarily comes as a surprise. But it was nice to hear Harbaugh acknowledge what Herbert went through physically last year in needing more of a break this offseason. Also, Herbert could've remained in Europe on Beer's tour longer without OTAs being mandatory. But he clearly made a calculated effort to be back right at the start of OTAs even though he didn't necessarily have to.
Our national nightmare (that was never really a big deal to begin with) is now over. Herbert returns to practice well before Chargers' mandatory minicamp on June 16th-18th. Now, the fun really begins with figuring out and installing OC Mike McDaniel's offense.
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