Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen among starters not playing during preseason

On Thursday, Brandon Staley made it clear that a number of the team’s stars and starters will not play Saturday against the Rams, nor play at all during the preseason in the month of August.

According to Staley, Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Derwin James are among the team’s notable players who won’t see a lick of time on the field over the next three weeks. Others include Austin Ekeler and veteran offensive linemen Corey Linsley and Bryan Bulaga.

This decision to sit most of the starters likely stems directly from Staley’s time with Sean McVay who has been known to keep all starters on the sideline during the preseason. A decision like this is probably music to the ears of Chargers fans who would have otherwise sat on pins and needles over the next three weeks in hopes that their favorite players would make it to week one healthy and in one piece.

In Herbert’s place, Staley has already announced that veteran Chase Daniel will start at quarterback against the Rams with both Easton Stick and K.J. Costello expected to play their fair share of snaps, as well.

With the starters out, the wealth of young talent on the Chargers will get three excellent opportunities to show their worth over the next few weeks. At the same time, I’m willing to bet the fan base will be watching these exhibitions with similar enthusiasm that’d you see for an actual regular season game.