Justin Herbert has seemingly been through it all over the past month or so.
First, he was diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot on July 31 that caused him to don a walking boot and miss nearly three weeks of training camp.
Then, after Herbert returned and looked magical in practice, he flew to Dallas for the Bolts final preseason game — only to get stuck in an elevator for nearly three hours the night before the game.
"It's been a fun test," Herbert said Wednesday. "Definitely learned a lot. Definitely go through some things you don't want to have to experience."
With all of that behind him, Herbert (and the Chargers) have now turned their full attention to the Raiders ahead of Sunday's Week 1 showdown.
Herbert said Wednesday that he couldn't pinpoint exactly when he even hurt his foot in practice.
"It was one of those things where I went in, it was getting a little sore so I talked to them about it," Herbert said. "There wasn't really one moment where I felt it happen."
Herbert, who is not listed on the Week 1 Injury Report, later added: "We're through it and we're looking forward."
The Chargers franchise quarterback said he was locked in during meetings to replicate practice reps and credited quarterbacks coach Shane Day for keeping him on track mentally to be ready for the season opener.
"Very tough. Those are the reps you wish to get back," Herbert said. "You don't want to lose those, especially during the preseason, where if you're not playing in the game then practice is everything to you.
"It was tough to miss that but I thought our coaches — Shane Day especially — we did a great job of not missing too much," Herbert added. "If I wasn't out at practice, I was watching it. We were meeting, talking about the film. I felt like I was getting reps out there."
With a bevy of fresh faces on offense, Herbert said he routinely met with the likes of DJ Chark, Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst and others to keep building a rapport despite not being on the field.
"That's the tough part about missing that time is that you're not getting reps with those guys," Herbert said. "They're all new but everyone is new, this entire offense is new and you're doing your best to pick it up and move as quickly as you can."
Get an inside look as the Chargers gather for their annual team photo at The Bolt in El Segundo
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
The Los Angeles Chargers take their annual team photo on Monday, September 2, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
As for the elevator incident, Herbert flashed a sly smile when asked about it. He was among more than a dozen people stuck but noted he was the only one with cell service.
"It wasn't fun. You get locked up in an elevator and you don't know when you're getting out," Herbert said. "We made a couple calls and they kept telling us it would be 15 or 20 minutes. That kept on going for a couple hours.
"It was tight, there wasn't a lot of air," Herbert said. "We just did a good job of keeping everyone calm … as long as everyone kept calm and took care of each other, we got out of there in one piece."
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh raved about Herbert's leadership the day after the incident and did so again Wednesday.
"It's no surprise that when 15 people got out of the elevator, who would be the last one to get off?," Harbaugh said. "He let 14 other people go in front of him. The last guy to get off the elevator was Justin Herbert.
"Any and every way, he is probably the best leader I've ever been around that plays the quarterback position. Or really any position," Harbaugh added.
Herbert on Wednesday downplayed being the last one to exit the elevator, saying that he and teammates Zion Johnson and Foster Sarell helped stabilize a ladder for others before getting out themselves.
Even so, Harbaugh made it clear that he wouldn't pick any other quarterback to be leading his squad heading into Week 1 against the Raiders.
"Right out of the shoot, one of the best leaders I've ever been around. From Day 1, he was a rock in every way," Harbaugh said of Herbert. "The hardest worker, the tone setter, the strategist, the performer, the producer. How else do you want a guy to lead? He leads from the front. It's tremendous."
Harbaugh later added: "There's not a day where he comes where he's late or disheveled or not ready to work. Every day, he's gotten the proper sleep and hydration and recovery. You know he studies because he has everything down cold the next day he comes in. He's always early. Hours early. I think that probably covers any and every way. And he's just a great guy, too. A great teammate."
Herbert now begins Year 5 in the NFL as he leads the Bolts into battle to kick off the Harbaugh Era in Los Angeles.
Widely regarded as one of the league's top quarterbacks, Herbert said Wednesday that he pays no attention to position rankings or chatter and added that he focused on team goals and not personal accolades.
But the Chargers are Herbert's team through and through, and he's excited to see where he can lead them in 2024.
"It's a great opportunity. That's what is so fun about football, to go out there and make something happen," Herbert said. "We know how last year went and we're well-aware of how we got here.
"We've got to learn from it and attack the next year and know we have the confidence that we can go out there and Sunday and play fast and play free," Herbert added.
