It’s a different feel for Herbert as he starts his second camp
COSTA MESA >> For Justin Herbert’s first training camp, he was the shy rookie backup quarterback looking to prove he was the right draft pick for the Chargers.
A year later, Herbert was high-fiving Chargers fans and had a comedic response about a rival quarterback as he started his second training camp Wednesday.
“I think it’s pretty cool that Patrick Mahomes knows who I am,” Herbert said jokingly when asked about Mahomes’ recent comments about him at a celebrity golf tournament.
The Chiefs’ star quarterback started a friendly quarterback feud when he said “I’ll see it when I believe it” to a Chargers fan who told him to watch out for Herbert. Mahomes later said he respects Herbert and was just having fun with fans at the event.
“I got such a great respect for what he’s been able to do,” Herbert said about Mahomes. “I’ve watched him so much.”
Herbert, 23, turned many into believers during a historic rookie season and now has the attention of MVP quarterbacks along with being a fan favorite at training camp. He’s come a long way since his backup days with no fans in the stands at training camp in 2020.
An eager Herbert got carried away during an autograph session to welcome back fans after the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t allow them at last summer’s training camp. Herbert walked along the fence to high-five fans and take pictures after signing autographs from a distance.
“I just wanted to say thank you for them coming out,” said Herbert, who’s fully vaccinated. “I’ll make sure to wash my hands and keep my distance next time. I apologize.
“It’s been a long time since playing with fans and I think it’s an awesome opportunity for them to come out here and watch football.”
Clearly, many people know who Justin Herbert is, after he set NFL records for most touchdown passes (31) and 300-yard games (8) for a rookie, but now he has high expectations for his second season.
Herbert looked comfortable throwing to his familiar wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. But he had plenty to learn with a new coaching staff and an offensive line with four new starters.
Herbert said he had a lengthy conversation with newcomer and veteran tight end Jared Cook about stick routes.
“It’s all about building that timing — being out there and throwing with them,” Herbert said. “On the sideline, talking about their routes . ... I got a bunch to learn from (Cook). Just being able to talk with him, talk about the routes, I think it helps us all.” first of two warmups for stretching.
“Make that a winning edge for us — how we start practice,” Staley said.
Staley and his coaching staff have prioritized safety by having advanced stretching and controlled-pace practices. The Chargers didn’t have competitive 11-on-11 team drills during the offseason program.
The fast-paced team drills returned for the first day of training camp, but the Chargers practiced for only 75 minutes on the field.
“We wanted our guys to get to the end of practice and say, ‘Hey, I could have gone longer than that,’” Staley said. “But this is our first time competitively together and go 11-on-11. So, what we’ll try to do is phase this thing properly, get our guys the right tactical work, but make sure we’re building during training camp and we’re ready to play when it matters.”
Perhaps Staley’s emphasis on stretching and controlled practice speed could help the Chargers when it comes to injuries.
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