The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the least productive offenses in the NFL five games into the Jim Harbaugh era.
And highly paid quarterback Justin Herbert is averaging just 163 passing yards per game.
The Chargers will try to rev up the attack on Monday night when they face the struggling defense of the Arizona Cardinals at Glendale, Ariz.
The Cardinals (2-4) are tied for 27th in scoring defense by allowing 27.2 points per game. Arizona has allowed 34 or more points on three occasions, including last week’s 21-point loss to the Green Bay Packers.
So perhaps the opportunity is there for Los Angeles (3-2) to get its offense moving. The Chargers are tied for 26th in scoring offense at 18.2 points per game and sit 28th in total offense at 281 yards per game during Harbaugh’s first season with the club.
As for Herbert, he topped 200 passing yards for the first time all season when he threw for 237 in last weekend’s 23-16 road victory over the Denver Broncos.
The scoring output is the Chargers’ second most of the season.
“I’d like to win every game by 60 points, but this is the NFL,” said Herbert, who has thrown for 815 yards this season, 28th most in the league. “You have to go out there and give your best effort every week. We’re exactly where we are right now, and we have to find a way to keep getting better and keep moving forward.”
Arizona needs to start stacking wins after a start that includes a 42-14 home loss to the Washington Commanders and last week’s 34-13 road setback to Green Bay.
The Cardinals fell behind 24-0 to the Packers in the first 25-plus minutes of the contest and later lost three second-half fumbles to sabotage any chance of a comeback. They committed 13 penalties for 100 yards.
Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray understands it was a shaky performance but said Thursday that a turnaround is possible.
“I don’t think anyone has given up on what we can accomplish,” Murray said.
Murray included a vow that he has “full faith” in the players and coaches.
“It’s a long season,” Murray said. “I’ve been on teams that started off hot and finished not where you want to, but I also understand the mindset and mentality that we have to have going into each week and moving forward.”
Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sustained a second-quarter concussion Sunday and missed the rest of the game.
Harrison remains in concussion protocol and took part in non-contact drills on Thursday. His availability will be determined later in the week.
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon referred to Harrison’s progress as “really encouraging.”
Harrison, the fourth overall pick of the 2024 draft, has 17 catches for team highs of 279 yards and four touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh will wear a heart monitor during this contest after briefly leaving last week’s game against the Broncos due to arrhythmia. It was Harbaugh’s second in-game heart incident as a coach, the other coming in 2012 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Harbaugh said that he passed tests performed by his cardiologist.
“Got some test results back. âThe heart of an athlete’ is a direct quote from my cardiologist,” Harbaugh said Thursday. “That made me feel good. … Back in rhythm, hopefully that sticks. Got the monitor on.”
Chargers star pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip) missed practice after sitting out the past two games.
Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Deane Leonard, both with hamstring injuries, also sat out for Los Angeles. So did tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) and wideout Quentin Johnston (ankle).
Sitting out for the Cardinals were offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (hamstring), defensive lineman Darius Robinson (calf) and inside linebacker Owen Pappoe (hip).
Gannon also said that defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is done for the season. He sustained a neck stinger in each of the past two games.
