COSTA MESA — Justin Herbert didn’t play in the Chargers’ exhibition opener against the Rams last Saturday at SoFi Stadium, the first of three preseason games before the regular season begins Sept. 11. He also won’t play Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys or Aug. 26 against the New Orleans Saints.
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, his top targets, won’t play in the preseason, either. Running back Austin Ekeler will sit out, too, as Chargers coach Brandon Staley follows his plan of mostly playing second- and third-team players to evaluate their play during the preseason.
So, the Chargers’ joint practices Wednesday and Thursday with the Cowboys at Jack Hammett Sports Complex took on an added significance for Herbert and the starters. It was their only opportunity to face opposing starters in game-like situations before the regular-season opener.
The overall play was scratchy at times, with neither team preparing at length for the other’s strengths. There were mistimed plays and breakdowns on both sides of the ball. But despite a lack of tackling opponents to the ground, there were elements that actually resembled game action.
“It means everything to us to have these live-game reps, treating them like a live-game situation, that’s where we get our reps, that’s where we get our practice in,” Herbert said. “Since we’re not playing in the preseason, we need to take advantage of these reps, and we did.
“We feel like we really got after it the past couple of days. To go against a team like that, I think it’s a great lesson for us, to see a team that flies around like that (defensively), with a (defensive) front seven like they’ve got, I felt like it was a great opportunity for us.”
Easton Stick is expected to start the first half of Saturday’s game against the Cowboys. Chase Daniel is scheduled to replace Stick to start the second half. Daniel started the Chargers’ 29-22 loss last Saturday to the Rams, with Stick replacing him to start the second half.
It’s anticipated that they’ll each play in the exhibition finale against the Saints.
“I thought there were a lot of good things out there,” Herbert said, continuing his evaluation of the Chargers’ first-team offense Thursday. “There is plenty of room for improvement for us. We’ll have a great chance to watch the film and evaluate ourselves. (But) I thought we executed well.”
The biggest improvement Thursday was better pocket protection for Herbert, who was under considerably more pressure during 11-on-11 sessions Wednesday. Herbert said the Chargers adjusted their protection plan after watching some film before returning to the field Thursday.
“I thought we answered better,” he said. “We were more firm up front. I thought those guys did a great job up front. I’d love to have as much time as I can to watch film, but I thought we handled that (adjustment) as well as possible and bounced back. That’s a really good (Dallas defensive) front line.”
WELCOME BACK
Like everyone else in camp, Herbert was happy to see fellow Pro Bowl section Derwin James Jr. signed, sealed and delivered after receiving a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension. James ended his “hold-in” and rejoined the Chargers for part of their practices Wednesday and Thursday.
“I’m so happy for him,” Herbert said. “I can’t stop smiling because he’s so deserving of it. I’ve only gotten to know him for a few years, but it’s been an absolute honor to be his teammate. He’s deserved every penny of that, and to have him (back), the leader, the competitor, the teammate, the friend, he’s about as good as it gets. I know the Chargers are better off with him.”
Asked for an example of James’ leadership, Herbert said, “I think a good example is the whole contract negotiation part. He hadn’t been practicing, but it was like he was. He was taking reps in walk-throughs. He was out there working. We saw that. We knew how much football means to him, especially this team. For him to have to deal with that, because I know it wasn’t up to him. If it were up to him, he’d be out there practicing. He’d be doing every rep like I would be.
“I was expecting him to practice (Wednesday in all of the drills).”
The plan is to get James back up to speed next week at the earliest.
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