EL SEGUNDO — The Chargers vowed to run the ball more often this season as part of Coach Jim Harbaugh’s sock-’em-in-the-mouth offense, and so far they’ve kept their promise, much to the detriment of their once explosive passing game triggered by strong-armed quarterback Justin Herbert.
To be sure, the Chargers’ offensive numbers have slumped in part because of Herbert’s sprained right ankle, which remains a concern going into Sunday’s game against the Broncos in Denver. Herbert was injured in a victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 and hasn’t been sound since.
There also was the obvious question of finding replacements for veteran wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams during the offseason. Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears and Williams was released in a pair of painful but necessary cut-cutting moves to comply with the NFL’s salary cap.
Nevertheless, a glance at the overall offensive statistics reveals the Chargers have suffered an offensive breakdown to start the season.
Overall, the Chargers (2-2) have scored only 68 points through four games for an average of 17 points. Only the Panthers (16.6), Cleveland Browns (15.8), New England Patriots (12.4) and Miami Dolphins (12) have averaged fewer points per game than the Chargers so far this season.
It gets worse.
Herbert is 31st among all NFL quarterbacks in total passing yardage with 578 yards, an average of 144.5 per game. He’s 17th with an average completion of 6.4 yards. He’s 30th with 91 attempts, an average of 22.75. He’s 30th with 59 completions, an average of 14.75.
He’s 17th with five touchdown passes, an average of 1.25 per game.
Those are Herbert’s career lows in all categories through four games of any season.
Publicly, at least, Herbert is unfazed by his low numbers.
“If we throw 500 times or 50 times, we just have to be executing as an offense,” Herbert said. “Selfishly, I’d love to throw the football, but I want to get this offense to be as best as it can, and what that looks like, it changes from week to week. That’s our game plan. We ran the ball really well the first couple of weeks and we have to get back to that. We’ve kind of shot ourselves in the foot the last couple of weeks.”
Overall, the Chargers are averaging 136 yards passing per game, ahead of only the Patriots (119.4). The Chargers’ overall totals of 93 attempts and 61 completions are the fewest in the 32-team NFL. Their average of 6.5 yards per completion is in the bottom third of the league.
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“Not where we want to be,” said Harbaugh, who was speaking of the Chargers’ record, but just as easily could have been talking specifically about their lackluster offense and their passing game, in particular. “We want to be 4-0. We’re 2-2. (We want to) get crisper, sharper.”
Fair enough, but coming out of the bye week and with extra time to allow Herbert’s bum ankle to mend, is it time for the Chargers to open up their offense Sunday against the Broncos (3-2)? Will the Chargers come out throwing on first downs, assuming Herbert is closer to being his old self again?
“Everything is possible,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh then praised Herbert for playing a team-first role, and not for the first time.
“He’s doing great,” Harbaugh said of Herbert, who is in his fifth season in the NFL. “Again, he’s the best. We’re glad he’s on our team. Nobody does more. He’s proven that during the first four weeks. I don’t think anybody does more for the entire organization than Justin Herbert does. Love him.”