Justin Herbert opens up on working with new Chargers OC Kellen Moore

Justin Herbert adjusted quite well to the Los Angeles Chargers’ new offense under Kellen Moore. The new offensive coordinator and the Dallas Cowboys mutually parted ways after last season, but now Moore has a fresh start with an up-and-coming superstar quarterback.

Herbert was confident from the get-go and now that he got to work with Moore in training camp, it seems like a seamless transition. Joe Lombardi was last year’s coordinator but is now with the Denver Broncos.

Herbert opened up on the changes, or lack thereof, moving forward in the offense.

“I think a lot of the protections are similar,” Herbert said Saturday on NFL Network. “You know, we’ve done a pretty good job of getting a protection plan with our offensive line going in, our running backs and making sure that everyone’s dialed in together because that’s a huge part of the offense.

“If we have the same or similar verbiage and lingo and we’re able to kind of carry that over from year to year, you know, (it’s a good thing). I think this is a really veteran offensive line group, and they’ve done a great job picking up stuff so far. So we’re communicating well, and as long as we’re doing that, I think we’ll be able to play some pretty good football.”

Hopefully it all comes together for Herbert and the Chargers. He inked a new deal that made him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it’s a 5-year extension worth $262.5 million — topping the five-year, 260 million deal Lamar Jackson signed with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the extension includes $133.7 million fully guaranteed, $193.7 million with the injury guarantee and springing potentially to $218.7 million guaranteed. The extension came one day before the Chargers opened up training camp.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco previously said this offseason that the Lamar Jackson contract among others wouldn’t necessarily serve as a blueprint for Herbert’s deal. As it turned out, Telesco topped any deal ever given out to a single player in the history of the NFL.

Herbert guided the Chargers to a 25-24 record and a playoff appearance in three years as starter. He threw for 14,089 yards with 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions on 66.9% passing. 

With 4,739 passing yards in 2022, Herbert passed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck for the most passing yards through a player’s first three NFL seasons.