Justin Herbert set to start Chargers’ preseason finale vs. Rams

The Los Angeles Chargers are planning to have quarterback Justin Herbert take the first-team snaps in the team’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. The move is framed as a chance for Herbert to shake off rust before the regular season begins.

Preseason is often treated as a live-fire evaluation period for quarterbacks and coordinators, but the final exhibition game carries extra weight. Coaches typically want to see how a starter manages timing with the first group, how quickly protections and assignments settle, and whether the passing game can sustain drives against a tighter rotation of starters.

Herbert’s role in this specific matchup also carries a built-in narrative element: the Chargers face their crosstown rival in a game that usually draws attention from both fan bases and local media. While exhibition contests do not affect standings, the finale can still influence how confidently a team feels about its early-season plans.

The Yahoo report adds that the Chargers view Herbert’s preseason appearance as preparation for the start of the regular season, with Los Angeles set to open Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. That connection matters because the first game is where preseason adjustments must be translated into clean execution, especially in the early phases of the offense.

Beyond the quarterback, the decision to start a franchise report-caller tends to shape how the surrounding roster is used. When a team brings out its primary playmakers and offensive line group with the starter, it can compress the amount of trial-and-error the coaching staff needs later in the week, leaving fewer unknowns for the opener.

Still, the Chargers’ regular-season rhythm will not be determined by one preseason start. Teams can run different packaging, vary tempo, and manage the amount of time starters spend on the field, so the key takeaway is not a score or a stat line, but whether the passing attack looks organized and coherent within the game plan.

With the preseason slate nearing its end, all eyes shift to how Herbert handles the cadence and the pocket responsibilities in a game that, by report, is designed to get him ready for the first meaningful snap of the season against Arizona.