On Tuesday, Jim Harbaugh announced that Trey Lance will get the starting nod for the LA Chargers in Thursday’s Hall of Fame matchup against the Detroit Lions. Lance is expected to play the full first half and into the third quarter, with undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei taking over afterward.
Taylor Heinicke will be the emergency QB3, while Justin Herbert won’t suit up — a typical approach this early, with regular season games still over a month away.
Some fans believe Lance’s start suggests he’s competing with Uiagalelei for the team’s third-string quarterback role. Given the extra preseason game, the Chargers still have time to assess Heinicke in live action.
Still, that might not be the full picture. Lance has generated some buzz in training camp, and a solid showing in the Hall of Fame Game could unexpectedly push him into the backup quarterback conversation.
Of course, nothing is finalized, and the 2025 season is still weeks away. Just because Lance is seeing second-team reps doesn’t automatically mean he’s moving up the depth chart.
Those snaps could simply be due to his expected workload in early preseason action over Heinicke. It may just be the team’s way of gathering more info on Lance’s capabilities as a potential QB3 option.
Yet, it’s noteworthy this is the first time all offseason where Lance emerging as the possible QB2 isn’t completely dismissed. That idea seemed far-fetched when he initially joined the Chargers, but now there’s at least a flicker of potential.
Chargers fans should hope that glimmer fades quickly. Despite being a former No. 3 overall draft pick, Lance has consistently underwhelmed in his limited NFL action so far.
True, Lance brings mobility and could offer a change of pace if the Chargers needed a more dynamic offense in Herbert’s absence. But that scenario still requires consistent throwing — something Lance hasn’t proven he can do.
Fans only need to recall the last time Lance started a preseason game — ironically, against the Chargers. Then playing for Dallas, he tossed five interceptions in that contest. Yes, five — in a preseason setting.
Ideally, Chargers fans should root for a repeat performance in Canton, to end any premature QB2 talk. The game result itself is irrelevant, and the team must avoid naming a shaky backup just because of a couple of decent August outings.
