O
nly one game remains in the preseason for the Los Angeles Chargers. Soon, it will be time for the team to shift focus as they prepare for week one and begin their quest for a Super Bowl title. Going 11-6 last season and returning to the playoffs after a one season absence, the Chargers are locked in and ready for a big year in 2025.
And with the preseason winding down, it will soon be time for teams to settle position battles and determine which players will make the final 53-man roster. Throughout camp, the Chargers have held multiple position battles but none has been more notable than the battle for the backup quarterback spot behind franchise quarterback, Justin Herbert. But now it looks like that battle has been settled, with former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance putting together a very strong camp.
Is Lance the Backup?
Since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers No. 3 overall in 2021, Lance has struggled to earn any significant playing time, appearing in six games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending injury early on in the 2022 season after being named the 49ers starter. And with the emergence of Brock Purdy, Lance was traded to the Dallas Cowboys prior to 2023– serving as the team’s third string quarterback for two seasons. But this offseason, Lance earned a one-year deal with the Chargers, where his goal is to prove that he still belongs in the NFL.
And since arriving in Los Angeles, Lance has revitalized his career during the preseason. In the Chargers preseason opener against the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame game, Lance went 13-for-20 for 120 yards and two touchdown passes before following that up with a 7-for-14, 55 yard performance in the team’s week two win over the New Orleans Saints. But it was his big game against the Los Angeles Rams that proved that Lance deserves the job. Going 7-for-15 with 121 yards, Lance also ran the ball four times for 25 yards and was in total control of the offense.
What Lance Brings to LA
Even though Lance is the backup, his tenure in Los Angeles is make or break. The Chargers hope that Herbert can hold up for all 17 games but if Lance is needed, he will need to play well if the Chargers want to see the postseason. Lance is probably out of chances to be a starter in the NFL, but a good tenure as a backup to Herbert could prolong his NFL career and make him the type of player that sticks around for a while as a career backup.
But if Lance does end up playing for the Chargers in the regular season and plays well, then a quarterback needy team could find themselves chomping at the bit to acquire his services. Either way, Lance will look to take full advantage of his time in SoCal and prove that he has what it takes to stay in the NFL long term.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Chargers Backup Quarterback Competition Appears to be Over appeared first on Heavy Sports.