Justin Herbert has already established himself as one of the NFL’s most talented quarterbacks, but the Chargers have struggled to turn his individual brilliance into sustained playoff success. Now, head coach Jim Harbaugh has made an aggressive effort to change that, bringing in Mike McDaniel as the team’s new offensive coordinator in an attempt to unlock another level from Herbert and that unit.

But injuries have repeatedly complicated Herbert’s path throughout his career, and the latest setback could be especially damaging. The Chargers have now lost another key piece of their offensive line, creating an immediate problem for Justin Herbert and McDaniel as they prepare for a season in which expectations are higher than ever.

What’s Tyler Biadasz injury update?

Chargers center Tyler Biadasz is expected to miss the season after suffering significant damage to his left knee during Tuesday’s joint practice against the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL insider Adam Schefter reported more details: “Chargers center Tyler Biadasz is out indefinitely after suffering damage to his ACL and additional injuries to his left knee during Tuesday’s joint practice against the 49ers, per Ian Rapoport and me. Biadasz will meet with more doctors to try to get more clarity.”

The injury is a devastating blow for Los Angeles because Biadasz was expected to be an important part of the offensive line protecting Herbert. Losing a starting center can have consequences that go beyond replacing one player, particularly when a new offensive system is being installed.

McDaniel’s arrival was supposed to bring a fresh identity to the Chargers’ offense. Now, the coaching staff must adjust its plans while trying to make sure Herbert has enough protection to operate that system effectively.

Why Tyler Biadasz injury is a major problem for Justin Herbert

The Chargers know all too well how damaging offensive-line injuries can be. Last season, Los Angeles lost star left tackle Rashawn Slater, and the absence of such an important blocker created problems throughout the 2025 campaign.

They were hoping to avoid another situation in which injuries to the offensive line could derail their aspirations. Instead, Biadasz is now facing a significant knee injury just as the Chargers prepare for another season with championship expectations.

For Herbert, the timing could not be worse. The quarterback has everything needed to lead a Super Bowl contender, but his ability to stay upright and operate consistently will depend heavily on the players in front of him. McDaniel now has to design an offense that maximizes Herbert’s strengths while accounting for another major change up front.

Can the Chargers overcome another major offensive-line injury?

The Chargers still have time to find a solution, and the full extent of Biadasz’s injury will become clearer after he receives additional medical evaluations. But the pressure is already increasing in Los Angeles.

Herbert is entering another season in which the expectation is to make a deep playoff run, while Harbaugh and McDaniel have made major changes specifically to help the team reach that level.

Losing Biadasz does not automatically end those hopes, but it removes an important piece from the equation. The Chargers have spent years searching for the formula that can finally turn Herbert’s talent into postseason success. Now, once again, injuries could become one of the biggest obstacles standing between Los Angeles and all Super Bowl ambitions.

Per the Chargers’ website, Justin Herbert will start vs 49ers, confirmed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. “Starters are going to play a series then they’re going to come out. The backups will play the rest of the game,” Harbaugh said on Tuesday morning.

This will be the second straight year that Herbert makes an appearance in the preseason for the Chargers. Herbert was a 2020 rookie, but there was no preseason that year due to COVID-19. Then, he sat from 2021 to 2023, and missed the 2024 preseason with a plantar fascia injury.

Will Brock Purdy play for 49ers vs Chargers?

After joint practice against the Chargers, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that a chunk of first stringers will play during their Week 2 preseason game. That includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who will get snaps vs. Chargers.

Per Savanah Tujague of Yahoo! Sports, Purdy should see “anywhere from one to two series to direct the huddle and test his timing in game conditions.” While players like Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk are still sidelined, it’s expected that Deebo Samuel and other starters join Purdy in the cameo.

Purdy and Herbert had very different joint practices

Purdy got picked and the offense was having lots of issues during the 49ers joint practice with the Chargers. From turnovers to miscommunications, it wasn’t great for the signal-caller.

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert torched the 49ers defense left, right, up, and down the field. It seems like the Chargers offense was firing at all cylinders, while the 49ers attacking force was to gears behind.

Jim Harbaugh spoke to the press and announced that Justin Herbert will not play vs. Texans in the 2026 NFL Preseason opener. Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei will play approximately one half of football each. As for the Texans, there’s certainty on whether CJ Stroud will play vs. Chargers.

Herbert is undoubtedly the QB1 of the team, and Harbaugh is not one to risk him in meaningless preseason games. Hence, it’s time for the Chargers backups to shine against a Texans team that will likely also rest plenty of their starting defense.

Herbert’s preseason stats are very limited

Herbert has never played much in the NFL preseason. He logged the only preseason statistics of his career during 2025 against the Los Angeles Rams. He finished that single opening series going 2-of-5 for 46 yards and a sack, leading a 9-play, 51-yard field-goal drive.

Herbert did not play any preseason snaps in his first five NFL seasons. Hence, it seems like the pattern will remain, at least for now. Therefore, fans will have to wait to see how Mike McDonald, Jim Harbaugh, and Justin Herbert all work alongside each other.

Harbaugh tends to rest starters in preseason

Jim Harbaugh usually employs a very cautious, structured plan that rests key starters and top veterans for the majority of the preseason. Rather than playing first-team units heavily, he scales their game action up minimally over the course of the schedule.

During an appearance on the Up & Adams show, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz revealed that the organization hasn’t shut the door on a reunion with Allen. Hortiz confirmed that the front office has remained in communication with the wide receiver’s representation to gauge the feasibility of bringing the franchise legend back to Southern California.

As things stand, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre’ Harris project as the primary targets in the Chargers’ passing game. Should Allen return, the 34-year-old veteran would offer an incredibly dependable presence to the rotation, allowing the Chargers to be ‘destructive,’ as David Njoku says.

Keenan Allen delivered a productive 2025 campaign in Los Angeles

Of the 13 seasons Allen has spent in the NFL, 12 have been in a Chargers uniform. Aside from a brief one-year stint with the Chicago Bears in 2024, the veteran playmaker has been synonymous with the franchise, establishing himself as one of the most prolific pass-catchers in team history.

Allen reunited with Los Angeles late last summer and, while the offense features multiple ascending talents, he still put up very respectable numbers. The veteran hauled in 81 receptions for 777 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating a level of consistency that has kept the front office highly interested in a 2026 encore.

While the Chargers are deeply committed to building a younger, more explosive roster under Mike McDaniel’s offensive direction, Allen’s value transcends his on-field production. His extensive experience makes him an ideal mentor for the team’s developing corps, all while remaining a trusted safety valve for Herbert in critical situations.

What could a potential new contract look like for Keenan Allen?

Last August, Allen signed a late one-year deal worth $3.02 million to return to the Chargers for the 2025 season. With the wideout hitting free agency once again this spring, his next contract structure could look slightly different as both sides weigh his role and market value.

Market projections suggest Allen could command a short-term deal worth around $6 million for the 2026 season. Ultimately, any potential deal hinges on mutual valuation, as the Chargers boast plenty of salary cap flexibility but may look to strike a team-friendly agreement that reflects his changing role in a revamped offense.

Last year, the Chargers saw immediate improvement following Jim Harbaugh’s arrival as head coach. While the offense received a significant lift, the consensus around the league is that this upcoming season could be even better with a more specialized scheme.

During this offseason, the Chargers made a splash by hiring McDaniel, who is widely regarded as an offensive mastermind. When asked about Justin Herbert, the former Dolphins head coach expressed total confidence, confirming his belief that the quarterback is ready to truly master his position.

“We’re looking to master and be elite at everything that we do and being able to own the position in a new way,” McDaniel said Firday, per the team’s website. “Being able for him to own the position a way he never has and ultimately, for it to be obvious to everyone around that he’s playing the best football of his career.”

The Chargers need Justin Herbert to reach elite status

Mike McDaniel understands that Justin Herbert is the cornerstone that will determine the Chargers’ success. His expectations for the quarterback are sky-high, as he believes Los Angeles now possesses the necessary components to be a legitimate championship contender.

“I had very, very lofty expectations. Justin’s up there as one of the main motivating factors of moving my family here,” McDaniel added. “Lofty expectations and I can say with absolute certainty he’s exceeded those. Just very motivated and focused.“

While Herbert has been a consistently solid performer, some feel he has yet to fully reach his immense potential. This is due, in part, to the inconsistent offensive line play he has dealt with throughout his career, which has often prevented him from feeling secure in the pocket and fully showcasing his elite skill set.

Following a quick exit from the 2025 playoffs, the Chargers decided to make a major change to the offense. The club hired Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, a move that will have a direct impact on Justin Herbert.

Nevertheless, hiring a new OC is not the only move they have made to improve the offense. The club has been adding new weapons to help the quarterback, and a new one may arrive soon.

Report: David Njoku to meet with the Chargers

After the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns did not sign David Njoku to a new contract. He is now a highly sought-after free agent, and the Chargers are well aware of his value.

According to Ian Rapoport, David Njoku will visit the Chargers on Monday. He is a seasoned tight end who had a decent tenure with the Browns, who dealt with significant instability at quarterback during his nine-year stay in Cleveland.

Njoku has amassed 4,062 yards and 34 touchdowns during his career. He would have to compete against second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II for the starter role if he joins Los Angeles.

Hortiz also said Quentin Johnston is not being shopped around. Hence, it seems like they would want to keep the roster intact, and maybe add one or two pieces via draft. Justin Herbert has had plenty of setbacks, but the Chargers want to make sure depth in wideouts is not one of them.

Keenan Allen had 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns. He was the second-leading WR on the team, just 12 yards below Ladd McConkey. Even at 33 years old, he is still delivering the goods.

Ladd McConkey is still the WR1 of the team

McConkey has two years in the NFL and he has plenty of production for such a young career. He has 1,938 yards on 148 receptions and 13 touchdowns. McConkey has those numbers despite suffering a sophomore slump.

The fact is he should be even better this year. The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator and his scheme could make McConkey one of the most productive wideouts in the NFL. It will be a sight to see.

The Chargers have lots of pressure on them

Since getting Justin Herbert, this team has had plenty of expectations. First, it was Anthony Lynn and then Brandon Staley. Hence, the team hired a top-tier head coach like Jim Harbaugh. Then, injuries hampered them, mainly in the offensive line.

Now, they have the O-line, the coach, a star coordinator, and are working on giving Herbert the best weapons they can. With the NFL Draft coming, the Chargers have a plethora of options to strengthen the roster.

Daniel Popper of The Athletic previously reported that tight end Oronde Gadsden could have a top-tier season thanks to McDaniel. Now, it’s been reported that Tre’ Harris is poised for a bigger role, and that Ladd McConkey could “have a bounce-back season in [Mike] McDaniel’s offense.”

With the possible departure of Keenan Allen, Harris could slide into that role, while also opening quite a lot of options for McConkey. Per Popper, “I can see McDaniel maximizing McConkey’s shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability on some of these same concepts.”

Mike McDaniel is creating plenty of hype

McDaniel’s arrival is creating quite the buzz inside the Chargers building. The fact is Justin Herbert has always been talented but hasn’t had the help needed to succeed. Now, with McDaniel, he could have two weapons develop into top-tier wide receivers.

McConkey has shown he could be a WR1. And for Harris, he is a second-round pick, so he has talent and there are expectations about him. McDaniel can help this offense as a whole. He must deliver on this expectations.

The Chargers are a boom-or-bust team

Now, the Chargers have the talent, the head coach, the quarterback, the offensive coordinator, and the prospects to win it all. If they don’t succeed this year, plenty of doubts and criticism will be over the franchise.

Per Popper’s report, the signing of tight end Charlie Kolar “will allow Oronde Gadsden to play in a role that maximizes the 2025 fifth-round pick’s receiving skill set.” That is great news for Justin Herbert, who found an unexpected weapon in the tight end last season.

Gadsden came out of nowhere and produced 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns. Now, Mike McDaniel and his highly-productive scheme could make Gadsden one of the best tight ends in football, at least in the receiving aspect of it.

McDaniel has made wonders with other tight ends

McDaniel had underwhelming tight ends his first two years as the Dolphins head coach, but once he got Jonnu Smith, things changed. In the 2024 season, Smith had 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 88 receptions.

McDaniel was also the 49ers offensive coordinator, where he had George Kittle. Now, Kittle is a superstar and he would arguably deliver in every scheme imaginable. Still, McDaniel’s scheme follows the Shanahan scheme, which means tight ends are not only important, but key to success.

The Chargers are not done

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that the Chargers were keeping tabs on AJ Brown. While those rumors have dimmed, the fact is that this means the Chargers are in the market, active. After all, they have money to spend.

The Chargers have $59.5 million in cap space, which is the second-highest in the NFL this season. They have brought offensive players in Tyler Biadasz, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold, and Charlie Kolar. They brought four names in defense, and plenty more will be spent.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Chargers are hiring Adam Gase as passing game coordinator. This means he will work very closely with Justin Herbert. Gase was last seen coaching the New York Jets in the NFL.

After that, it’s been a five-year hiatus for a coach that seemed like the NFL passed him over. While Mike McDaniel will oversee all things offense with head coach Jim Harbaugh, having someone like Gase might be troublesome if he is indeed outdated with the current NFL landscape.

Gase has a very bad reputation

Gase rose to prominence in the NFL thanks to being the Broncos OC during the Peyton Manning days. That granted him the Dolphins HC position from 2016 to 2017. He had a 23-25 record with the Dolphins, but that didn’t stop the Jets from hiring as the head coach too. It was a disaster, even if he had now-Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold under center. He ended up with a 9-23 record with the Jets. Overall, his HC record is 32-48 and no one saw him since then.

Since 2024, Gase was a strategic advisor for the football intelligence, technology, and media company The 33rd Team alongside Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia. Hence, Gase has been watching the NFL from outside of the bubble. It’s a really weird hire by the Chargers.

The Chargers have a lot of pressure on their shoulders

The Chargers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2018 season. After that, they’ve missed four playoff trips and have also lost three times in the Wild Card Round. At first, they changed the coach to bring back Jim Harbaugh. Now, they changed the OC and brought the mastermind Mike McDaniel to call plays. Those two paired with an elite talent like Justin Herbert makes this offense a force to be reckoned with.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Greg Roman is one of three coaches going into in-person interviews with the Jets. Roman formerly coached Lamar Jackson to become a unanimous MVP in 2019. Then, he was Justin Herbert’s OC in the Chargers for the last two years.

According to Fowler, there were five interviews done virtually, but the list narrowed down to just three now. Roman is quite an intriguing name, as he defies what many teams are looking for.

Greg Roman is an old school yet smart coach

Roman is an old-school coach who has been under the Harbaugh tree pretty much his whole career. Hence, he is a run-heavy schemer that doesn’t exactly aligns with the NFL today. Nowadays, it’s creativity and QBs shining what gets you a job as OC. Roman is more pragmatic and traditional.

Still, Roman is no stranger to make a QB shine. It’s just not as flashy. However, he made Jackson the MVP and Justin Herbert get Pro Bowl honors. There is nothing secure yet, but Roman is surely one of the most intriguing candidates.

The Jets need to spark something on offense

The Jets also interviewed a Super Bowl winner for the OC spot. Whoever gets the role must need to be an effective hire. The Jets offense has been bad for years now, and the team is desperate to finally have a productive unit.