Chargers’ Justin Herbert named AFC’s starting QB for Pro Bowl

COSTA MESA — Chargers backmost Justin Herbert acceptable the barroom truthful precocious during his memorable rookie twelvemonth determination was interest heading into the 2021 play that Herbert would regress with different coaching unit change.

Herbert’s statistic and performances connected the tract person made it casual to spot determination has been nary regression successful Year 2, but helium and the enactment received validation connected Wednesday erstwhile Herbert was named the AFC’s starting backmost for the 2022 Pro Bowl.

Herbert was 1 of 5 starters and six full Chargers selected for the accumulation game, which is scheduled for Feb. 6 successful Las Vegas. Edge rusher Joey Bosa, information Derwin James, halfway Corey Linsley and rookie near tackle Rashawn Slater are the team’s different Pro Bowl starters.

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen was selected to his 5th consecutive Pro Bowl. The Chargers besides had 5 players named arsenic alternates for the game: moving backmost Austin Ekeler, wide receiver Mike Williams, choky extremity Jared Cook, antiaircraft tackle Linval Joseph and fullback Gabe Nabers.

“It’s a testament to him and his hard work,” Chargers manager Brandon Staley said of Herbert’s honor. “It’s a testament to his teammates. It’s a testament to his coaching staff. He’s surely worthy of that selection. And I deliberation what helium would archer you is that it’s due to the fact that of his teammates.

“We’ve had a really, truly prime play astir him. And past he’s been astatine the halfway of everything that we’ve done arsenic a shot team. I’m truthful arrogant of his season. I’m truthful arrogant of however he’s starring our shot team.”

Herbert is the archetypal Chargers backmost to beryllium named a Pro Bowl starter since Dan Fouts successful 1983. Herbert, past year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has 4,058 yards with 32 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a passer standing of 99.1 with 3 games near successful the regular season.

Herbert surpassed expectations for his 2nd play with the assistance of newcomers Slater and Linsley connected the violative line. They’re the archetypal brace of Chargers violative linemen to beryllium selected to the Pro Bowl since Marcus McNeill and Nick Hardwick successful 2006.

Linsley, who made his archetypal vocation Pro Bowl, near the Green Bay Packers to articulation the Chargers successful escaped agency. The Chargers selected Slater with the 13th wide prime successful this year’s draft.

Slater became the archetypal rookie violative tackle to marque the Pro Bowl since Matt Kalil (USC) did it successful 2012 with the Minnesota Vikings. Slater joined McNeill arsenic the lone violative tackles successful NFL past not drafted successful the apical 10 to beryllium named Pro Bowlers arsenic rookies.

“​​At the enactment of scrimmage, for him to execute astatine the level that he’s performed successful the tally crippled and successful the passing game,” Staley said, “because it’s not conscionable successful walk extortion wherever he’s excelled, helium has excelled successful the tally game. As you guys person seen, we’re moving the shot astatine a precocious level close now, he’s a large crushed why. I deliberation conscionable his wide maturity, his composure, the intelligence portion of the crippled – erstwhile you ticker him, overmuch similar Justin (Herbert), helium conscionable doesn’t marque precise galore intelligence errors. There’s truthful overmuch that he’s liable for. He conscionable has a existent presence.”

James, aft missing astir of the past 2 seasons due to the fact that of injuries, was named to the Pro Bowl for the 2nd clip successful his career. A campaigner for Comeback Player of the Year, helium has 103 full tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions.

Bosa was selected to his 4th vocation Pro Bowl. He has a team-high 9.5 sacks and leads the NFL with six strip-sacks.

Allen said Herbert deserves MVP information due to the fact that helium has the Chargers (8-6) contending for a playoff spot successful his 2nd season.

Perhaps the MVP is retired of scope with the mode aboriginal Hall of Famers Tom Brady (Tampa Bay) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) person played, but Herbert continues to scope caller feats astatine a accelerated pace.

“He’s balling,” Allen said astir Herbert. “He is going crazy. He’s starring america successful his 2nd year. He’s conscionable making outstanding play aft outstanding play. … He’s throwing touchdowns to everybody connected the field. He’s ridiculous.”

Justin Herbert is the archetypal Chargers QB to beryllium named to the Pro Bowl wrong his archetypal 2 seasons

— Gilbert Manzano (@GManzano24) December 23, 2021