Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho has accused Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert of gambling on rival teams, citing the quarterback's recent poor performances. The accusations were made on Acho's podcast following the Chargers' 24-9 loss to the LA Rams, a game in which Herbert threw two interceptions.
Acho suggested that Herbert's difficulties reading defenses could be a symptom of a more serious issue. "Somebody gotta call an ophthalmologist cause Herbert can't see," Acho stated. "He can't see! It is impossible to make the throws Justin Herbert makes on a weekly basis if his eyes were functioning properly. He seemingly throws it directly to a defender every single week."
He then escalated the speculation, positing three possibilities for Herbert's struggles: "Either Herbert is invested in the opponent, either Herbert is gambling on the opponent, or Herbert simply cannot see." The NFL explicitly prohibits players from betting on games.
Herbert, 28, has had a difficult season, marked by 10 interceptions and only five touchdowns for the Chargers, who currently have a 0-7 record. The team's offensive line has also struggled, with Herbert being sacked 23 times. Despite calls for his dismissal, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel appears to retain the support of head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh expressed his commitment to improving the team's performance, stating, "Our motivation is dedication to getting it. To getting it changed, to getting it fixed." He added, "I believe in our guys. I believe in our players, our coaches, and, yeah, it's us who are the ones that the challenge is with, and we're the ones that, we're the only ones that can fix it."
This is not the first time Herbert's performance has drawn external criticism. Some fans had previously linked his early-season struggles to his engagement to singer-songwriter Madison Beer, although there is no evidence to support such claims.