Eventually, Johnston realized that Herbert was doing the team's conditioning test, a rigorous running assessment players must pass at the start of training camp to prove they are in shape. As a part of that test, they run 150 yards six times, split into six 25-yard back-and-forth sprints, breaking for 40 seconds after each 150. The amount of sets, reps and rest periods varies by position group, but it's a test that most players dread when they return for the beginning of football season.
"It's definitely hard," Phillips said at his locker Wednesday. "That's something where it's disappointing as hell, and I'd do anything to have that back. But you can't do anything about the past, so the only thing that would be worse than that play itself is to let that linger and let that keep me from being present and getting better."
A couple of former University of Oregon quarterbacks square off Sunday in a pivotal AFC West matchup. It's Justin Herbert of the Chargers and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, both backed by talented defenses. The Chargers are making their season debut at SoFi Stadium, and they already have two big pelts to hang on the wall. They've beaten Kansas City and Las Vegas,
Justin Herbert was given free rein to showcase his arm, firing pass after pass against the defending AFC champions. This approach hinged on trust; not necessarily in Herbert's ability, but in his receivers' capabilities. "It's all about having a clear mind and trust," Quentin Johnston said. "Trusting the play call, and then trusting yourself to get open. Trusting Justin that the ball will be in the right place when you get open."
