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The Los Angeles Chargers have been banged up so far this season. They have lost their top two running backs — Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton — to injury, and their two starting offensive tackles — Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt — have also gone down to injury. But Alt was back on Thursday when they faced the Minnesota Vikings, and his presence gave quarterback Justin Herbert a greater sense of stability. Herbert completed 18 of his 25 passing attempts and threw for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he even ran for 62 additional yards while helping L.A. manufacture a 37-10 victory. That performance gave him the most pass completions in NFL history — 2,146 of them to be exact — through six seasons. And just like that… Justin Herbert has more completions than any player in NFL history in their first 6 seasons. pic.twitter.com/gUnytP58Oa— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) October 24, 2025 Read more: 49ers GM John Lynch Offers Update on Trade Speculation So far this season, Herbert is leading the NFL with 201 completions, 296 passing attempts and 2,140 passing yards. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes, and thanks to his fine play, the Chargers have a 5-3 record and are just half a game behind the Denver Broncos, who are in first place in the AFC West. He had previously set the record for the most touchdown passes thrown by a rookie with 31 back in 2020. INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers drops back to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) Although Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has always loved playing old-school pound-and-ground football, this season, he has shown some flexibility as far as his offense. Los Angeles is actually among the league leaders in passing attempts, and it is seemingly taking more reasonable risks on that side of the football. Second-year wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who was a diamond in the rough last year, has picked up his play lately after a slow start to 2025. Meanwhile, rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, a fifth-round draft pick out of Syracuse University, has gotten hot lately. He had five catches and 77 yards on Thursday, and he has totaled 309 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the last three contests. Read more: 49ers Linked to Star NFC Receiver Ahead of Trade Deadline While Harbaugh has given the Chargers an identity and a soul that they had previously lacked, Herbert continues to be the engine that drives them forward. The hope in Southern California is that someday soon, the two will motor the franchise to its first Super Bowl championship. For more on the Chargers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
