Are you ready for Justin Herbert's preseason debut?
The Bolts quarterback will start Saturday's preseason game against the Rams, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday morning, which means Herbert is in line to make his first-ever preseason appearance.
"We're going to play starters on Saturday," Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh said Thursday that Herbert is expected to play "a series, could be two," along with other offensive starters.
"It's important to see a pass rush and get a feel for getting the ball out and just seeing a game before you actually play [in the regular season]," Herbert said.
Herbert noted after Thursday's practice that he was the one who approached Harbaugh about the possibility of getting exhibition snaps this preseason, something he's never done in his career.
"It was actually me going to him and saying, 'Hey, would it be OK if I went in and played?' Because I think in years past the plan was to rest," Herbert said. "But I wanted to go out there and feel the pass rush because in practice, as a quarterback, you don't always get the true feeling of the pass rush.
"So, I thought it'd be helpful to go out there. He was understanding and he worked together talking through it," Herbert added.
Herbert also revealed he was originally going to play in last weekend's preseason game against the Saints but that changed after Rashawn Slater's season-ending knee injury shuffled around the offensive line.
"We had to adjust and worked toward this being the week to play," Herbert said.
He later added: "I just thought it was something that can help ... I just thought this was something that could be good for me and good for the team."
Herbert, by the way, said he was "heartbroken" that Slater won't play in 2025.
"We know what a great teammate and friend he is," Herbert said. "You never want to see anything like that happen, especially to a guy who works so hard and does such a great job taking care of his body. It was just a freak accident.
"At the end of the day, we want to make sure we make him proud," Herbert added. "We're going to miss him but the season is not going to change. It's going to keep coming."
Harbaugh noted that defensive starters will play, too, with the exception of Derwin James, Jr. and Khalil Mack. Players who are working through something physically are also unlikely to play.
"All the offensive starters are going to play," Harbaugh said. "Defensively, same. I'm going to hold K-Mack and Derwin back."
He later added: "Our guys want to play. They want the first series of the season not to be the first series of the season."
Herbert was a 2020 first-round pick but the NFL didn't have a preseason that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Herbert then didn't dress for any exhibition games from 2021 to 2023, and didn't play last season — Harbaugh's first year in charge — because he was dealing with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot.
But Herbert will be out there Saturday at SoFi Stadium where the Chargers will be the road team against the Rams. Kickoff between the Los Angeles teams is at 4 p.m (PT).
Trey Lance started the 2025 Hall of Fame Game before Taylor Heinicke got the starting nod last weekend against the Saints.
Harbaugh said he expects both Lance and Heinicke to also play Saturday.
Keenan Allen will suit up, too, despite joining the Chargers on August 5. Herbert said there's been a "comfort zone" with Allen back in the mix.
"He's such a smart ballplayer. He's able to go out there and learn a completely new offense but not miss anything," Herbert said. "The way he runs routes and see defenses, you can call it whatever you want and he's going to find a way to get open.
"I'm glad we were able to make it work," Herbert added about bringing Allen back.
