Herbert’s Bolts ready for healthy run forward

NFL teams aspire not only to reach the playoffs but to get there in good health.

Here’s a surprise: because of improving health, Justin Herbert’s team could be more star-laden — and perhaps have less wear and tear — than many others in the 16-team field.

Of course, the Chargers (8-6) still have to get in.

But a popular early season narrative, that injuries had wrecked their year, would be turned fully onto its head if this not-unrealistic scenario adds to the team’s recent health gains: Edge rusher Joey Bosa and left tackle Rayshawn Slater return from injury, as coach Brandon Staley has hinted they might.

Other than corner J.C. Jackson, the Chargers would have all their stars, assuming no one else goes down. Few other teams would boast more star power. Remember, coming into the season, the Chargers placed an NFL-best eight players on the NFL Network’s list of the league’s top-100 active players. And their most dangerous receiver, Mike Williams, now playing well in his comeback from an ankle injury, didn’t make the list.

Though rust would challenge Bosa and Slater, injury hiatuses also reduce wear and tear caused by collisions and other contested plays.

The teams that reach the Super Bowl will be playing in their 20th or 21st game, an attrition test that grew last year with the NFL’s addition of a 17th regular-season game.

Fueling the Rams’ Super Bowl run last winter were two stars who were relatively fresh when they joined the team in in early November. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s workload was lightened by his recovery from 2020 knee surgery. Edge rusher Von Miller had sat out two games near midseason.

Herbert is throwing to a revived tandem in Williams and 30-year old Keenan Allen. Among all NFL receivers, they’re just 55th and 96th in snaps. The Chargers seemed to slow-play Allen’s return from a September hamstring injury. It seems to have paid off. The receiver, who made the top-100 list, has caught 20 of 23 targets in two games since returning three contests ago.

That All-Pro blocker Corey Linsley’s snap total stands 28th among centers because of injury detours looms as a potential edge for a 31-year-old, seventh-year player who is Pro Football Focus’ top-graded center this year.

A full-speed Bosa would create better matchups for edge rusher Khali Mack, who’s 17th in snaps at his position. They’d form perhaps the AFC’s top tandem of edge defenders. In contrast, the AFCleading Buffalo Bills recently lost Von Miller to an ACL tear that led to surgery Dec. 6. And the Cincinnati Bengals, 10 months after playing in the Super Bowl, saw their bookend defenders Trey Hendrickson (broken wrist) and Sam Hubbard (calf ) fall to injury in the past two weeks. As it stands now, the Chargers would play at Cincinnati in a wild-card game.

Staley spoke in August about playing the long game with running back Austin Ekeler. He’s fifth in snaps but 21st in rush attempts.

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Safety Derwin James was bearing a heavy load until recently, having missed just one defensive snap through 12 games. A thigh injury provided two weeks of recovery, and James apparently will return soon. Among all safeties, he’s 37th in snaps. Teammate Nasir Adderley, the free safety, is 47th and looked spry Sunday. Elsewhere, corners Asante Samuel and Michael Davis stand 18th and 59th in snaps; Drue Tranquill’s workload places 26th among linebackers; and the defense’s top interior lineman, Sebastian JosephDay, is 33rd.

Herbert’s team

Because Herbert is still on his first contract, making him one of the NFL’s top bargains, the Chargers invested salary in other positions, such as adding Mack, Linsley and Jackson. In theory, the result was a more talented roster, one more able to weather injuries.

Herbert’s durability continues to set him apart, too. He’s been available to start each of the team’s 47 games since he arrived, missing only his first potential start because the coaches chose Tyrod Taylor.

In the same three-year span, only three other franchise quarterbacks — Josh Allen (Bills), Tom Brady (Bucs) and Derek Carr (Raiders) — have been available for every start. Herbert stands second in quarterback snaps this season, trailing only Brady.

Three things

• The Patriots (7-7) are underachieving, a rarity under Bill Belichick. They have one of the NFL’s better tandems of edge rushers (Matthew Judon and rising star Josh Uche), a fairly good offensive line and an above-average secondary. Their safety Kyle Dugger made an astonishing interception Sunday, leaving his receiver and picking off Derek Carr’s quick shot to WR Davante Adams. But if their clunky offense and surprisingly errant special teams don’t turn it around, a playoff berth isn’t likely. Yes, their pass-catching corps needs more speed.

• The Chiefs can’t win it all if their youthful defense doesn’t improve at tackling.

• The Lions are fun to watch. Coach Dan Campbell is their Bruce Bochy, combining dry humor with a physical presence. Their San Diego coaching connections seemed to pay off once again Sunday. The special teams of Dave Fipp (La Jolla High) returned a punt for a touchdown. The offense had survived against a fast, tough Jets defense. On fourth-and-inches, a well-conceived pass play to a tight end produced the game’s decisive touchdown. Among the team’s offensive assistants are three San Diegans: line coach Hank Fraley (former University of San Diego assistant), passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Tanner Engstrand (San Diego State and USD graduate) and quality control coach Steve Oliver (USD graduate who played under Fraley).