"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."
What started as musical chairs is beginning to sound like a sad trombone. There's only so many times you can reshuffle an offensive line before it has a ripple effect on the entire football team. The Chargers are reminded of that now as they head into Sunday's game with the Washington Commanders hoping - as opposed to knowing - they can provide adequate protection for quarterback Justin Herbert.
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."
Jim Harbaugh has already called him one of the greatest players to ever play his position. The perception nationally of Justin Herbert isn't as charitable. The consensus is that Herbert doesn't belong in the top tier of NFL quarterbacks alongside the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow. If anything, Herbert might be viewed as being closer to Jared Goff or Brock Purdy than Mahomes or Jackson.
