Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but there is still a gap between the LA Chargers signal caller and the top-tier elite quarterbacks. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen falls in that exclusive group after winning his first MVP trophy last season.
Raw talent-wise, Herbert and Allen are not that far off and you could even make the case that Herbert is a better pure passer than his Buffalo counterpart. The biggest difference is how Allen incorporates the running game, which has become a real weapon for the Bills' signal-caller.
This is an area of Herbert's game that Chargers fans have wanted to see for years. Herbert may not be Allen, but he definitely has the athleticism to use his legs more in the offense. Fans wanting to see Herbert use his legs more are going to be happy with his latest comments on the Dan Patrick Show, as the Chargers' QB specifically cited Allen's style as something to incorporate in his game moving forward.
Justin Herbert this morning on the Dan Patrick Show:
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) July 31, 2025
"What I respect about him [Josh Allen] is he's able to run power between the tackles. He's able to take the hits and deliver the hits." Herbert then went on to say he wants to do more of that in the offense this season... 👀
Justin Herbert wants to model his game more like Josh Allen in 2025
There is an inherent risk in running more and delivering the hits as Herbert is alluding to, but as long as it is done in moderation it can open a new wrinkle for this Chargers offense. Nobody wants Herbert out there seeking content like he's Derwin James, but him using his legs could totally change the offensive outlook.
It makes sense for Herbert to use his legs more given the offensive system he is in. Greg Roman previously built offenses for Colin Kaepernick and Lamar Jackson, both of which featured heavy usage of the running game. Roman's first year in LA did not feature that same usage.
Part of that may have been situational. Herbert was dealing with a lingering foot injury during training camp last season that got him off to a slow start. Not only did that take away practice reps, but it also likely steered the coaching staff away from wanting to truly lean into that aspect of his game.
Before the foot injury, there were two finger injuries that Herbert suffered in 2023. While those didn't impact his lower half, it did change how Herbert could take snaps, hand the ball off, and execute play-action. It definitely had an impact on the offense.
And the year before that it was the fractured rib cartilage he suffered in Week 2 and a torn labrum in his left side that fans didn't even know about. Each of the last three seasons have included some kind of injury that has slowed down his ability to run the football.
As long as he goes into the 2025 season healthy, we may finally see the version of Herbert that fans have wanted to see; the version that makes the most of his athleticism to go with his incredible talent as a passer.