Day 21 of Chargers training camp will be remembered for a long time.
The Chargers held a two-hour practice before their preseason finale Saturday in Dallas.
Here is the Chargers camp report from Wednesday’s practice:
1. Herbert shines in training
Justin Herbert was on another level on Wednesday.
In fact, it was as if he was on a different planet or in a different atmosphere.
The Bullets midfielder was in fine form on Wednesday, taking part in his third practice since returning from a foot injury.
What about the sequence in which Herbert threw touchdown passes on four straight plays, three of which came in the red zone.
The Bolts’ offense opened the drill at the 22-yard line. Herbert dropped back and scanned the field before sending a perfect pass into the hands of Donald Parham Jr. in the front right corner of the end zone.
The throw was the only one Parham could catch as it was over the outstretched arms of linebacker Cam Hart.
Then came a 14-yard pass to Joshua Palmer and an 11-yard field goal to Derrius Davis before Herbert and Palmer closed out the drill with an 8-yard field goal.
Herbert had just begun.
The Chargers then focused on a third-long attempt in the next practice period.
On third-and-12, Herbert found Quentin Johnson for a first down.
On a third-and-10 attempt, there was a 40-yard connection with Palmer despite pressure from Frank Genda.
On a third-and-8 attempt, a strike over the middle to Parham for over 10 yards.
On third-and-8, a quick pass to Luke Benson to move the chains.
Yes, Herbert was feeling it Wednesday and even Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was impressed.
“It’s awesome,” Minter said. “There’s nothing better for us defensively than having Justin on our team right now for practice and games. I think he’s the elite of the elite, so it makes everybody better, makes our offense work at a higher level, makes our defense work at a higher level.
“I think it’s like iron sharpens iron, so when you have the best players out there and you get the opportunity to play them, it makes everyone around him better,” Minter added.
And we haven’t even covered the multiple other practice periods where he dismantled defenses with apparent ease.
This included another session focused on third downs as he fired a pair of first downs to Semi Vihoko and one each to Johnston and Palmer to make it 4 from 4.
Herbert also produced another perfect spell at the third attempt when he fired the first passes to Brendan Rice, Johnston and Palmer.
“You’ve probably all seen the throws he makes,” rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey said after practice. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I’m just happy to have him back out there.”
Overall, Herbert completed 25 of 29 passes in Wednesday’s session.
McConkey said he was a quick learner when he was on the field with Herbert.
“You have to be ready at any time,” McConkey said. “He can make any throw. Even when you feel like you’re not ready, he can make any throw. Just be ready, that’s what I feel like we’ve all learned because he can make any throw.”
What we saw in the training could be a glimpse into the future as well, Minter said after the training.
“I think he has a chance to have a magical year for us,” Minter said.
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