COSTA MESA — Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has fond memories of sitting in the New Orleans Saints’ quarterbacks room with Joe Lombardi leading a group that included Drew Brees in 2009.
The trio reunited Wednesday, but the roles were different. This time, Brees was the visitor and Staley was the one in charge.
Brees, the former Saints and Chargers quarterback who recently retired, was visiting because of his new job as an analyst with NBC Sports, but the soon-to-be Hall of Famer is familiar with the Chargers’ coaching staff.
Lombardi was the Saints’ quarterbacks coach 10 of the past 12 seasons before joining the Chargers as the offensive coordinator this year. Brees spent his first five seasons with the Chargers before spending his final 15 in New Orleans.
Brees said he sat in the Chargers’ quarterbacks room to watch Lombardi instruct a group that included second-year star quarterback Justin Herbert. The two quarterbacks have spoken multiple times this offseason and had a memorable back-and-forth duel in Week 5 last season, with Brees and the Saints prevailing in overtime.
Brees had high praise for Herbert, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“I’ve actually been really impressed with him,” Brees said. “There’s no doubt his physical tools are as good as anybody I’ve ever seen. By all accounts, he’s a great worker, he’s got great leadership qualities, he’s got a lot of intangibles, so I think the sky is the limit for him.”
Lombardi coached Staley when he was the quarterback for Mercyhurst University, which is why Staley received an invitation to the Saints’ quarterbacks meeting in 2009. At the time, Staley was starting his coaching career as a defensive line and special teams coach at St. Thomas, a Division III program in Minnesota.
Staley and Lombardi reunited to form a successful offensive system for Herbert, similar to what Lombardi and Saints coach Sean Payton created for Brees.
Brees endorsed Lombardi as an offensive coordinator and expects Herbert to have plenty of success in his system.
“You have to create the foundation by which you’re going to be able to build this offense, but you build it around a guy like Justin Herbert,” Brees said.
HERBERT VACCINATED
The Chargers were one of four NFL teams listed as having a low number of players vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a report from the Washington Post. The Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals were also listed.
Herbert said Wednesday he’s vaccinated and confirmed that there’s a “small group” of Chargers players who are vaccinated.
Herbert, who majored in biology at Oregon, said not many players have approached him for information on the vaccines.
“I haven’t talked to too many people about it,” Herbert said. “You know, there’s a small group of guys that have been vaccinated and I’ve been vaccinated. I thought if it’s available and to be able to do all these things, it helped me in the long run. And, you know, I think it’s better for everyone, but it’s up to everyone. So it’s their opinion. And, you know, I think it’s a tough situation regardless, but nobody’s asked me too much.”
The NFL and the NFL Players Association came to an agreement Wednesday for COVID-19 protocols during training camp and the preseason.
Players who are fully vaccinated won’t be required to take daily COVID-19 tests and don’t have to wear masks at the team facility. Players not vaccinated will be required to do both and will have many other restrictions.
Staley said he wasn’t concerned about the low number of Chargers players vaccinated.
“I do not have any concern whatsoever on it affecting us,” Staley said. “I know that we’re going to figure it out one way or the other because that’s just the hallmark of how we’re going to operate around here. I would say that these things have a way of working themselves out the closer, you know, you get to competition, and I know that our players are fully aware of what’s at stake.”
BOSA FEELING GOOD
Star edge rusher Joey Bosa joined his teammates on the field this week for the first time this offseason and was greeted by a new coaching staff and several new teammates.
Bosa said he missed seeing former teammates Melvin Ingram and Isaac Rochell, but he expressed excitement for his new defensive line teammates.
Bosa and Ingram formed one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league the past few years. Now Uchenna Nwosu will be tasked with replacing Ingram and be Bosa’s running mate.
Ingram is currently a free agent and Rochell joined the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.
The Chargers signed Kyler Fackrell and drafted Chris Rumph II to add depth to the defensive line. Bosa praised Fackrell and Nwosu and called Rumph a good athlete.
“We definitely have a good group,” said Bosa, a three-time Pro Bowler. “But as you know, (Ingram) is an All-Pro type player. So I hope wherever he goes, he does a great job.”
Bosa missed four games last season, including the final two, because of multiple injuries and two concussions. Bosa said there are no lingering effects from the concussions.
“There’s no effects that I’ve been dealing with or anything, so I’m feeling good,” Bosa said.
