Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have stumbled out of the gate in the 2026 NFL season with back-to-back 26-14 defeats against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders. Their 0-2 record leaves little room for error as the team faces a demanding run of fixtures.
Former Chargers quarterback Chase Daniel spoke on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday, delivering a blunt assessment of the team’s prospects. Daniel, who spent over a decade in the NFL, warned that the Chargers are running out of time to turn things around. “Well, they’re running out of time… they’re 0 and 2, and by the way, they played the Raiders and the Cardinals,” he said. “I know the Raiders are better than people think, but those are two. And then you look at the gauntlet of the next seven games. There’s a real possibility, and I’m not just being hyperbolic, that they could be three and six or two and seven through the next seven.”
The schedule that Daniel referenced includes tough away games against Buffalo, Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City, with a bye week thrown in before matchups against the Rams, Houston, and Baltimore. “It just does not get any easier,” he added.
Daniel singled out the upcoming game as a must-win moment for the Chargers. “I want Justin Herbert to raise his level of play because that’s sort of been the whole thing with [Jim] Harbaugh. Still hasn’t won a playoff game. No one expected them to go 0 and 2, especially when you have Mike McDaniel, who you’re thinking is going to get the run game going, who you’re thinking is going to get the play action and unlocking him under center. It just hasn’t gone as planned, and it just gets more difficult.”
Herbert, who has been under the microscope since the season began, addressed questions about leadership and responsibility within the team. Despite the losses, he stressed unity in the locker room. “I think that happens regardless. I think our team is so close, and so I don’t think there’s a lack of vocal leadership at all… We’ve got great leadership on this team. I trust those guys in that locker room, and so I don’t think anyone is panicked or worried, because that’s not going to do us any good.”
The Chargers’ offensive struggles have compounded their problems. Under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, the team has scored 28 points across two games, committed 15 penalties resulting in 109 yards lost, and turned the ball over five times. Herbert has completed just 59 percent of his passes, throwing three interceptions alongside two touchdown passes.
Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers will need to find answers fast, with a challenging schedule ahead and pressure mounting on both quarterback and coaching staff. The next game looms as a critical test of whether the team can arrest their slide or face a steep uphill battle.
According to Yahoo Sports.