It's been a full team effort in the quarterback room heading into Week 4.
With Justin Herbert on his second week of dealing with an ankle injury (the quarterback was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday), the unit has stepped up in support of one another with backups Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick pushing along.
Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman praised the togetherness of the quarterback room as they've supported each other throughout the entire process.
"They work great together. Teamwork like you wouldn't believe," Roman said Thursday. "Supportive of one another like last week was a great example. Multiple plans were in effect. Certain guys taking reps, Easton taking reps, that kind of thing.
"Those guys do a great job working together, communicating, comparing notes," Roman added. "Really good relationship there, really good communication."
Herbert added Wednesday: "The most important thing is that room is that everyone wants to win. We're all preparing each other, pushing each other. We want to win and we're competitive. To have guys like that that push me, and I push them, it only makes us better."
The group's chemistry has only continued to grow on and off the field in short time, as their week stay in Charlotte also allowed them to spend even more time together.
"Absolutely [feel a bond]. You spend so much time together, and it's been a lot of fun," Stick said Thursday. "You get to do certain things when you have time outside.
"Being in Charlotte for a week, get to spend a bunch of time together," he added. "It's been really good."
Sunday's game in Pittsburgh was the first time this season all three quarterbacks were active for a game.
And with a lot of unknowns this week leading up to the game, it's about getting prepared for whoever is in there under center and whatever ends up happening on game day.
"When that happens, it definitely adds another layer, but we're fully capable of dealing with that," Roman said. "We understand that's part of it, you try to think ahead, 'Hey if this happens, let's have some stuff ready.' You organize that, which we have weeks ago really and you integrate it into the game plan.
"But it might not get called unless he's in or the other stuff might only get called if he's in. That kind of thing. But you don't make a big deal about it, it's reality and you have to be ready," Roman added. "You always want to tailor things and streamline things to your quarterback."
Heinicke entered the game for Herbert after he left midway through the third quarter and completed both of his passes for 24 yards but was sacked three times.
Since being acquired in an August 28 trade, the quarterback has attacked getting up to speed quickly and has fit in seamlessly with his fellow quarterbacks.
Roman believes the experience and good chemistry he brings to the room has been helpful in fitting right in.
"I think Taylor brings a wealth of experience and he knows how to handle himself," Roman said. "He's got a really good feel for the room and how to interact with it. He's got a great sense of that. He's seen a lot of football, been a lot of different places, done things a lot of different ways so he's been great in that regard."
Roman later added: "He's a great job picking this stuff up quick. Really savvy guy, he was burning the midnight oil. He was drinking truck stop coffee to stay up and get caught up. Hats off to him, real pro."
A lot is left to be determined from now until Sunday in the quarterback room and the group is taking it day-by-day.
Regardless, the preparation has remained the same for everyone involved even without knowing how it's going to play out.
"It's definitely different when you know that you're starting," Heinicke said Wednesday at his locker. "You have more of a calmness that you'll know you'll be playing. When you don't know until Sunday morning, you get kind of nervous throughout the week.
"At the same time, you don't prepare any different," Heinicke added. "I think backups prepare to start because at any given moment, you can be thrown in the game, so you have to be ready."
Stick added: "I think you prepare the same way, regardless of the circumstances. That's the job and that's kind of how we've gone about it. you do it that way, then you're always prepared. That's your job to be prepared. and hopefully help Justin be as prepared as possible."
