Chargers' Ladd McConkey wants MVP conversation for Justin Herbert: 'Don’t know what else he needs to do'

As we're 10 weeks done the 2025 NFL season, the playoff representation is getting much clear, portion frontrunners for idiosyncratic subordinate awards are coming into a clearer view. 

Of course, the grant astir talked astir is the league's MVP, and it's been a amusive statement crossed the league. 

There's Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones shining for the 8-2 Indianapolis Colts, Drake Maye looking similar a chill seasoned with a New England Patriots squad with the aforesaid record, and Matthew Stafford looks backmost successful his premier with the Los Angeles Rams. 

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Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates with Justin Herbert #10 aft scoring a touchdown during the 2nd 4th against the New England Patriots astatine Gillette Stadium connected December 28, 2024 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

But determination is 1 sanction that hasn't been getting the aforesaid designation contempt putting up akin numbers, portion his squad is showing they are a existent playoff contender: Los Angeles Chargers backmost Justin Herbert. 

Charger prima receiver Ladd McConkey whitethorn beryllium a spot biased, but helium agrees his backmost should beryllium close successful the speech alongside the different league leaders. 

"I’m telling you, he’s a stud," McConkey told Fox News Digital portion discussing his concern with Dr Pepper up of "The Pepper Portal" heading to his aged stomping grounds astatine the University of Georgia this weekend. "I don’t cognize what other helium needs to do. He’s retired determination balling. 

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"I mean, he’ll ne'er accidental it. That’s not the benignant of feline helium is. He’s not going to beryllium like, ‘Oh, wherefore aren’t I getting this, getting that.’ If we’re winning shot games, I deliberation that feline is going to beryllium happy. He conscionable needs to support playing however he’s playing, and it’s each going to enactment retired conscionable OK for him."

The Chargers, nether second-year caput manager Jim Harbaugh, person seen Herbert pb them to a 7-3 record, which includes a existent three-game triumph streak aft a ascendant triumph implicit the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

While there’s been immense contributions to this commencement for Los Angeles successful each 3 phases, Herbert has been balling, conscionable similar McConkey says. He ranks 2nd successful the NFL successful passing yards (2,610), lone down Jones with the Colts (2,659), and is tied for 3rd with 19 passing touchdowns alongside Maye. 

Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates with Justin Herbert aft scoring a touchdown during the 2nd 4th against the New England Patriots astatine Gillette Stadium connected Dec. 28, 2024 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

But a portion of Herbert’s crippled that has been much unlocked this play has been his rushing ability. He leads each quarterbacks successful rushing yards (324), which has kept galore defenses honorable due to the fact that helium isn’t acrophobic to tuck and tally for immense gains astatine times. 

What is hurting Herbert, though, is his 8 interceptions connected the season. He evidently wants to curb that number. However, helium has been performing astatine an elite level, portion injuries person wounded this squad astatine cardinal positions similar near and close tackle, with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt retired for the remainder of the season. 

For McConkey, his transportation with Herbert developed rapidly erstwhile helium came successful arsenic a rookie past season. Through 16 games, McConkey tallied 82 receptions for 1,149 yards with 7 touchdowns. 

This season, McConkey has totaled 631 yards connected 51 catches with 4 touchdowns, including 1 against the Steelers during the 25-10 triumph connected "Sunday Night Football." 

"It’s great. Justin’s a large dude," McConkey said erstwhile asked however their narration has developed truthful quickly. "Being capable to travel successful twelvemonth 2 and america being capable to conscionable provender disconnected each different connected the field, knowing what helium wants to expect and however helium wants maine to tally this route, what spot helium wants maine out. Speed it out, dilatory it down, oregon whatever. I consciousness similar we’re getting amended by the week and support it rolling."

There's inactive 7 games remaining for Herbert and the remainder of the MVP hopefuls successful the NFL. Perhaps Herbert's sanction volition travel up much arsenic the regular play comes to a close. 

But, arsenic McConkey mentioned, that's not his eventual goal. The Chargers person their eyes acceptable connected the playoffs for different season, wherever they anticipation to marque a deeper tally than past play erstwhile they mislaid to the Houston Texans successful the Wild Card Round. 

Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers throws a walk successful the archetypal 4th against the Tennessee Titans successful the crippled astatine Nissan Stadium connected Nov. 2, 2025 successful Nashville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

While McConkey surely has religion the Chargers volition find their mode into January football, he’s besides ever tuned successful to his Georgia Bulldogs.

McConkey won’t beryllium capable to beryllium astatine Sanford Stadium this play to spot No. 5 Georgia look No. 10 Texas successful a important SEC matchup, but helium volition beryllium watching up of his ain crippled against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Dr Pepper continues to big peculiar game-day events this assemblage play with "The Pepper Portal," a first-of-its-kind instrumentality acquisition connecting rival assemblage towns earlier the large game.

"It’s sick," McConkey said of "The Pepper Portal." "Just seeing what Dr Pepper tin bash with the assemblage shot instrumentality base, conscionable bringing everybody together. I cognize however it was astatine Georgia – those fans are ever ready. Just having that and the Pepper Portal, being capable to person immoderate back-and-forth with Texas and them conscionable being successful the SEC twelvemonth 2 now. We gotta amusement them what immoderate existent SEC, Dawg Nation is about."

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