Anthony Lynn: Door isn't closed on Justin Herbert starting for Chargers

While Tyrod Taylor will be the Los Angeles Chargers starting quarterback heading into the first game of the 2020 NFL season, that doesn't mean rookie QB Justin Herbert won't slot in at some point.

The Oregon product was selected by the Chargers sixth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, and LA head coach Anthony Lynn seems to believe that Herbert could earn the starting role if he works hard enough. 

“We’re going into this thing: Day 1, Tyrod Taylor’s going to be starting it off,” Lynn said, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. “He’s earned that right. His teammates respect the hell out of him, he’s a leader on this football team. Our young quarterback’s gonna learn a lot from Tyrod Taylor. Tyrod Taylor’s one of the most respected players on our team, and he doesn’t say a whole lot either. [But] it’s a competition, bro. There’s a competition at every position, not just this one. I can’t just say Tyrod’s gonna be the starting quarterback for the whole year if this young man goes in there and wins the job.” 

While Herbert threw for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2019 with Oregon, Taylor is much more proven at the professional level. Taylor has played 70 games in his nine year career and has gone 23-21-1 with a 61.6 completion percentage, 9,562 yards, 54 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. It also helps that the Chargers team has the utmost confidence in Taylor, so it would be a mistake to begin the season with Herbert at the helm of the offense.  

If the rookie can earn his keep, then maybe we'll see Herbert in action sooner rather than later.