Justin Herbert has succeeded under pressure right out of the gate

Justin Herbert has been productive in his first three NFL starts, but he has also been good when pressured by pass rush.

The Los Angeles Chargers have lost three games in a row with Justin Herbert starting under center, by a total of 15 points, and they’re 1-3 on the season. But the rookie signal caller has thrown for 311, 330 and 290 yards in those games, and has looked the part.

Herbert enters the league with the prototypical size (6-foot-6, 236 pounds) and physical tools. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is an easy comparison.

The Chargers have been without right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Trai Turner for the last one and last two games respectively. So Herbert has been under a good bit of pressure behind some backup offensive lineman, but he has only taken two sacks in each of his three starts.

Justin Herbert has been quite good under pressure thus far

His mobility has been helpful, but Herbert has had a lot success in the face of pass-rush pressure right out of the gate,

Plenty of more experienced quarterbacks have not done as well as Herbert’s done under pressure in his three starts this year–his first three NFL starts, of course. A larger sample of work to come will be more telling, but the early returns are promising for Herbert right down to those deeper numbers when the pocket hasn’t been perfect. It’s obvious, but an NFL quarterback has to function when the pass rush pressure is getting to him (be it obviously or more subjectively defined).

Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has tried to remain committed to Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback once he’s healthy. But Herbert is showing the future with him as the starter is now, despite the team being winless in his starts.