This might be the question you’re asking on Friday morning after seeing Justin Herbert get hit by the Kansas City Chiefs’ Mike Danna, which led to Herbert getting X-rays. (For what it’s worth, he still threw a late touchdown pass!)
Who is his backup in Los Angeles?
First off, we should say that Chargers head coach Brandon Staley wasn’t worried about Herbert, “because he’s Justin Herbert.” That seems encouraging, but you just don’t know when that was just after the loss and maybe something will come back with further examination on Friday.
So, yes, this is a question we should dive into. And we have answers:
Who's his backup?
That would be … Chase Daniel!
Chase Daniel lives the life of kings, man, he gets paid $2 million per year, he comes in, he hands the ball off once, Kirk Herbstreit praises him for his veteran leadership and then he leaves
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 16, 2022
Wait, as in the Chase Daniel who has been a backup for nearly his entire career?
The one and the same!
Daniel came out of Missouri as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Since then, he’s played for six teams in his career: The Saints, the Chiefs, the Bears, the Lions, the Eagles and the Chargers.
He’s played in 71 games … but he’s started five. And he’s made A LOT of money in the process:
Chase Daniel. 13 years in NFL. 71 games played. 5 starts. 261 passes attempted. 8 TDs. Career earnings: $41,828,471
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 16, 2022
OK so who's Daniel's backup?
Easton Stick!
He was drafted by the Chargers in the fifth round of the 2019 draft out of North Dakota State, and maybe he was going to be the backup this year … but nope.
There you have it.
