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As we are 10 weeks into the 2025 NFL season, the playoff picture is becoming clearer, while the favorites for individual player awards are emerging more clearly.
Of course, the most talked about award is league MVP, and it’s been a fun debate throughout the league.
There’s Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones shining for the Indianapolis Colts (8-2), Drake Maye looking like a cool veteran with a New England Patriots team with the same record, and Matthew Stafford remembering his prime with the Los Angeles Rams.
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Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates with Justin Herbert #10 after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
But there’s one name that hasn’t gotten the same recognition despite posting similar numbers while his team is proving it’s a true playoff contender: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Charger star receiver Ladd McConkey may be a little biased, but he agrees his quarterback should be in the conversation along with the other leaders in the league.
“I’m telling you, he’s a stud,” McConkey told Pak Gazette Digital while discussing his partnership with Dr Pepper before “The Pepper Portal” headed to its old home at the University of Georgia this weekend. “I don’t know what else he needs to do. He’s out there playing.
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“I mean, he’ll never say it. That’s not the kind of person he is. He’s not going to say, ‘Oh, why don’t I understand this or that?’ If we win football games, I think that guy will be happy. “He just needs to keep playing the way he does and everything will work out for him.”
The Chargers, under second-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, have seen Herbert lead them to a 7-3 record, including a current three-game winning streak after a dominant victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While there have been big contributions to this start for Los Angeles in all three phases, Herbert has been very good, 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 19 touchdown passes alongside Maye.
Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates with Justin Herbert after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
But one piece of Herbert’s game that has been unlocked more this season has been his running ability. He leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards (324), which has kept many defenses honest because he’s not afraid to hide and run for big gains at times.
What is hurting Herbert, however, is his eight interceptions on the season. Obviously he wants to stop that number. However, he has been performing at an elite level, while injuries have hampered this team at key positions at 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 arrived as a rookie last season. Through 16 games, McConkey had 82 receptions for 1,149 yards with seven touchdowns.
This season, McConkey has totaled 631 yards on 51 receptions with four touchdowns, including one against the Steelers during a 25-10 win on “Sunday Night Football.”
“It’s great. Justin is a great guy,” McConkey said when asked how their relationship had developed so quickly. “Being able to come in year two and be able to feed off each other on the field, knowing what he wants to expect and how he wants me to go this route, where he wants me to go. Speed up, slow down or whatever. I feel like we’re getting better every week and we’re still going.”
There are still seven games left for Herbert and the rest of the NFL MVP contenders. Perhaps Herbert’s name will come up more as the regular season comes to a close.
But, as McConkey mentioned, that’s not his ultimate goal. The Chargers have their eyes set on the playoffs for one more season, where they hope to make a deeper run 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 in 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 find their way into January football, he has also always had his eye on his Georgia Bulldogs.
McConkey won’t be able to be at Sanford Stadium this weekend to watch No. 5 Georgia take on No. 10 Texas in a crucial SEC matchup, but he will be watching 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 one-of-a-kind fan experience connecting rival college cities before the big game.
“It’s sick,” McConkey said of “The Pepper Portal.” “I just see what Dr Pepper can do with the college football fan base, just bringing everyone together. I know what it was like at Georgia: those fans are always ready. Just having that and the Pepper Portal, being able to have some trades with Texas and they’re now in year two of the SEC. We’ve got to show them what a real SEC, Dawg Nation, is all about.”
