Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has pushed back against a colorful criticism leveled at his starting quarterback, Justin Herbert, by an opposing defender. The comments came after a Rams safety described Herbert's passing in a recent high-profile podcast, comparing the throws to handling deli meat. Harbaugh, who has consistently supported his offense during a difficult stretch, stated that he does not see the same issues highlighted by the opposing player.
The controversy stems from a recent episode of the "St. Brown Podcast," which is co-hosted by Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous St. Brown. The episode, published on Wednesday, featured Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake reflecting on the Week 8 matchup between the two Los Angeles teams. Lake laughed while describing the experience of defending against Herbert, claiming the quarterback was seeing ghosts and throwing passes that were easy to intercept.
Lake stated, "I mean he was throwing deli meat out there. He's seeing ghosts. I don't know what's going on but like, we knew we were going to get a couple. At least one." The safety was referring to the Rams' defensive success in that specific game, where they managed to disrupt the Chargers' passing attack significantly.
The statistical record from that Week 8 contest supports the Rams' defensive showing. Herbert threw two interceptions, one of which was picked off by Lake. The Rams capitalized on these errors to defeat the Chargers 24 to 9. The loss dropped the Chargers to a 0-7 record for the season. It marked the second consecutive game in which the Chargers failed to score a single touchdown, highlighting their offensive stagnation.
Herbert's individual metrics have also been a point of scrutiny. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler currently leads the NFL with 10 interceptions in just seven games. Additionally, he is ranked last in the league with a Quarterback Rating (QBR) of 32.6, indicating a significant drop in performance compared to his previous accolades.
When asked about Lake's remarks on Wednesday afternoon, Harbaugh remained composed. He acknowledged that everyone is entitled to their own perspective but maintained that the "deli meat" comparison was not how he views the quarterback's play. "As far as anybody else's opinion, I don't see that. Everybody's entitled to their opinion," Harbaugh said. "It's not what I see."
The head coach further praised Herbert, stating that he believed the quarterback did his job exceptionally well against the Rams. However, Harbaugh did concede that there were two specific throws in the game that he would have preferred to see different outcomes for, acknowledging that perfection is not expected at the professional level.
Herbert himself appeared unaware of the specific podcast comments at the time of his own press availability. When questioned about the safety's description of his passing, Herbert said he had not looked into it or heard anything about it, which meant he could not make a definitive comment on the matter.
Harbaugh's defense of Herbert is part of a broader stance he has taken to support offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel joined the Chargers after being fired by the Miami Dolphins, and Harbaugh has stood by him throughout the season. The offense has struggled to produce, with the Chargers ranking last in the NFL with an average of 14.1 points per game. They are also second to last in total yardage, having accumulated 2,018 yards for the season.
As the Chargers continue their search for a first win, the dynamic between the coaching staff, the quarterback, and the broader media narrative remains a focal point. While the numbers suggest a team in crisis, Harbaugh remains publicly steadfast in his belief that the core of the offense is functioning as intended.
