EL SEGUNDO, Calif — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will make his preseason debut Saturday against the Rams.
Harbaugh said he expects starters to play up to eight plays, but said not every starter will hit that number in the game, which will be the Chargers’ third of the preseason.
“Our guys want to play,” Harbaugh said. “They want the first series of the season not to be the first series of the season.”
Most of the Chargers’ starters were excused from last year’s preseason games. This time around, however, Harbaugh said that the preseason snaps are beneficial, particularly for the offense, to get on the same page with timing and execution.
For that reason, the only starters that won’t play are safety Derwin James Jr. and Khalil Mack.
“I know they’ll be ready,” Harbaugh said.
Herbert has avoided all preseason action up to this point. During his rookie season, when he most likely would have seen action, he didn’t have preseason games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, in Harbaugh’s first season as the Chargers’ coach, Herbert dealt with a plantar fascia injury in his right foot.
One projected starter who won’t play Saturday is guard Mekhi Becton, who hasn’t practiced since July 28th with an undisclosed injury, and it could linger into the beginning of the season. Harbaugh was noncommittal Thursday on Becton’s status for the Chargers’ Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil.
“He’ll be ready when he’s ready,” Harbaugh said. “As you know, I’m not a doctor.”
Losing Becton to begin the season would be a significant loss for the Chargers, who already lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending patellar tear.
