Fehoko shared a clip from Fearless With Jason Whitlock on X, adding his own message: he’s tired of the blame being placed on Herbert and suggested that ownership and the front office could push Herbert toward retirement or demand a trade. This represents a notable shift from his August stance, where he argued that if the front office continued to fail Herbert, the quarterback might walk away on his own terms. Now Fehoko contends that ownership and general manager Joe Hortiz could be pushing Herbert out, tying back to a broader concern he has expressed: organizational failures are making Herbert’s position untenable.
The season’s first game provided fresh material to illustrate the point. Herbert completed 17 of 27 passes for 209 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked three times and finished with an 83.7 passer rating, one of the quarterback’s lower regular-season marks under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett, stepping into a starting role under new head coach Mike LaFleur, went 27 of 37 for 277 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Even former Chargers quarterback Chase Daniel remarked afterward that Brissett outperformed Herbert at home.
Los Angeles was outgained 393-268, and the Cardinals blocked a punt in the fourth quarter to set up a go-ahead score. Herbert also threw an interception deep in Chargers territory on what became their last real scoring chance.
Many expected the offense to look different this season. The Chargers had brought in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator to improve the running game and better protect Herbert, especially after a 2025 campaign in which the team allowed 54 sacks and ranked 31st in the league with a 62.8 grade, according to Pro Football Network’s Offensive Line Impact Rankings. Instead, the line underperformed.
Key injuries and rotations also affected the line. Newly signed center Tyler Biadasz tore his ACL during an August joint practice with the 49ers, leaving rookie Jake Slaughter to start the opener. Harbaugh rotated Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins at left guard, defending the move as beneficial for the team without offering further explanation.
After the loss to Arizona, the discussion broadened beyond the quarterback to the coaching staff. Fehoko echoed Whitlock’s view that the concerns were broader than the quarterback alone. Arizona entered the season with modest expectations, while the Chargers carried high expectations in the AFC West, making the gap in performance more surprising.
Fehoko criticized Herbert’s approach, describing him as a great and elite player who, in Fehoko’s view, does not pressure the front office or coaching staff enough. Fehoko argued that Herbert should speak up for himself and set expectations with the organization, stating that if the front office does not address ongoing issues, Herbert might consider his future.
Earlier, Fehoko had criticized the front office in March for prioritizing 2027 compensatory draft picks over immediate roster help. In August, he claimed the Chargers had significant cap space but overlooked available offensive linemen. He labeled the front office’s approach to the position group as “cheap.” By Sunday night, with a 0-1 record, Fehoko suggested the organization needed a broader housecleaning and urged listening to those who have been in the building daily.
Despite these comments, Herbert remains under contract through 2029, following the extension he signed in 2023. There is no reporting from Chargers beat writers or league insiders indicating the front office has discussed moving on from Herbert. Fehoko’s predictions reflect his interpretation of a pattern he observed from inside the organization, but they do not constitute official moves or plans.
For now, Herbert remains the face of the Chargers, though the team will need to improve a number of issues, including special-teams mistakes and turnovers, if it wants to rebound. The Chargers’ Week 2 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders offers an early test to see whether they can address these problems and restore momentum after an opening defeat.
