Still, this is a tough setback for the Chargers as they attempt to put last season’s 5-12 mark behind them with new head coach Jim Harbaugh, learning a new offensive system with plenty of fresh faces on the roster.

Herbert had started 62 straight games and hadn’t missed a game to injury in the NFL prior to suffering a season-ending finger injury in December, sitting out the Chargers’ final four games in 2023 — all losses.

In four NFL seasons, Herbert has completed 66.6% of his passes and thrown for 17,223 yards, 114 touchdowns and only 42 interceptions, also rushing for 911 yards and 11 more scores.

The Chargers currently have three other quarterbacks on their 90-man roster: 2019 fifth-round pick Easton Stick, 2023 seventh-rounder Max Duggan and undrafted rookie Casey Bauman from Augustana College. Stick saw his only extended NFL action last season as Herbert’s replacement, starting the final four games and throwing for 1,129 yards, three TDs and one pick. He also fumbled five times, losing four of them.