NFL News: Chargers’ Justin Herbert gets teammate’s backing for MVP

As we’re 10 weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the playoff picture is becoming clearer as frontrunners for individual player awards come into clearer view.

Of course, the most talked about award is the league’s MVP, and it’s been a fun debate across the league.

There’s Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones shining for the 8-2 Indianapolis Colts, Drake Maye looking like a cool veteran with a New England Patriots team with the same record, and Matthew Stafford looking back into his prime with the Los Angeles Rams.

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But there’s one name that hasn’t gotten the same recognition despite putting up similar numbers while his team is proving to be a true playoff contender: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Chargers star receiver Ladd McConkey may be a little biased, but he agrees his quarterback should be right in the conversation with the other league leaders.

“I’m telling you, he’s a stud,” McConkey told Pakinomist Digital while discussing his partnership with Dr. Pepper ahead of “The Pepper Portal” heading to his old stomping grounds at the University of Georgia this weekend. “I don’t know what else he’s going to do. He’s out there balling.

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“I mean, he’ll never say that. That’s not the type of guy he is. He’s not going to be like, ‘Oh, why don’t I get it, get it.’ If we win football games, I think that guy will be happy. He’s just got to keep playing the way he’s playing and it’s all going to work out fine for him.”

The Chargers, under second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, have seen Herbert lead them to a 7-3 record, which includes a current three-game winning streak after a dominating victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While there have been huge contributions to this start for Los Angeles in all three phases, Herbert has been in ballet, as McConkey says. He ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (2,610), behind only Jones with the Colts (2,659), and is tied for third with Maye with 19 touchdown passes.

Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates with Justin Herbert after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

But one part of Herbert’s game that has been more unlocked this season has been his rushing ability. He leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards (324), which has kept many defenses honest because he’s not afraid to tuck and run for big gains at times.

What hurts Herbert, though, is his eight interceptions on the season. He obviously wants to limit that number. However, he has performed at an elite level while injuries have hurt this team at key positions like left and right tackle, with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt out for the rest of the season.

For McConkey, his connection with Herbert developed quickly when he entered as a rookie last season. Through 16 games, McConkey tallied 82 receptions for 1,149 yards with seven touchdowns.

This season, McConkey has amassed 631 yards on 51 catches with four touchdowns, including one against the Steelers during the 25-10 victory on “Sunday Night Football.”

“It’s amazing. Justin is a great guy,” McConkey said when asked how their relationship has progressed so quickly. “Being able to come into year two and us just being able to feed off each other on the field, knowing what he wants to expect and how he wants me to run this route, what spot he wants me out. Speed ​​it up, slow it down or whatever. I feel like we’re getting better every week and keep rolling.”

There are still seven games left for Herbert and the rest of the MVP hopefuls in the NFL. Perhaps Herbert’s name will come up more as the regular season draws to a close.

But, as McConkey mentioned, that’s not his ultimate goal. The Chargers have their eyes on the playoffs for another season, hoping to go deeper than last season when they lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.

Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers throws a pass in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans during the game at Nissan Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

While McConkey certainly has faith that the Chargers will make it to January football, he’s also always set on his Georgia Bulldogs.

McConkey won’t be able to be at Sanford Stadium this weekend to watch No. 5 Georgia face No. 10 Texas in a pivotal SEC game, but he will watch ahead of his own game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dr. Pepper continues to host special game day events this college season with “The Pepper Portal,” a first-of-its-kind fan experience that connects rival college towns before the big game.

“It’s sick,” McConkey said of “The Pepper Portal.” “Just seeing what Dr Pepper can do with the college football fan base, just bringing everybody together. I know what it was like in Georgia — those fans are always ready. Just having that and the Pepper portal, being able to have a little back and forth with Texas and them just being in SEC year two now. We’ve got to show them what a real SEC, Dawg Nation is all about.”