Michael Irvin took an odd shot at Justin Herbert as the Los Angeles Chargers reel from a concerning 0-2 start.
After back-to-back playoff appearances under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have dropped 26-14 losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert is facing heavy scrutiny after posting 401 passing yards with two touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 71.6 quarterback rating.
Irvin mocked Herbert’s struggles with a dig at his romantic relationship with singer Madison Beer. The former Dallas Cowboys star chastised the Chargers quarterback in an Instagram video posted after Sunday’s loss.
“You made the wrong drive,” Irvin said. “Driving your girl to the airport, but you can’t drive this team to that end zone? That’s a problem.”
Herbert faces backlash
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Herbert has endured a brutal start to his seventh NFL season, sparking criticism from pundits wondering whether he’ll ever take the leap to stardom. It’s not all related to his girlfriend.
The Chargers have other problems, but ESPN’s Jeff Saturday said on Tuesday’s First Take that Herbert hasn’t uplifted his teammates the way a star quarterback should.
“Justin Herbert is supposed to be your guy,” Saturday said. “That’s when a quarterback needs to help elevate you. He has not done that, to this point.”
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons also feels that people are giving Herbert too much of a pass, instead blaming the Chargers for not setting him up for success.
“I don’t understand why everybody is so terrified to just point the finger at Herbert, who has been awful this year,” Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh defended Herbert and feels the team has let him down. The head coach cited interceptions where tight end David Njoku dropped the football and wide receiver Derius Davis didn’t properly run his route.
“Two interceptions that were really exactly what he was supposed to do,” Harbaugh said, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “… But yeah, the ability to shake that off as a quarterback, I mean, that speaks volumes to who he is.”
Herbert and the Chargers will look to bounce back against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.
