Trey Lance still has the edge in the Chargers’ backup quarterback race, but the margin is getting thinner.
What looked like a straightforward path to the QB2 job has turned into something a little more compelling, with DJ Uiagalelei doing enough this offseason to keep the conversation alive. Lance entered camp as the clear favorite to back up Justin Herbert, and the Chargers have done plenty to reinforce that standing. He got solid work in the spring, continued to see a steady stream of second-team reps, and was placed behind Herbert on the team’s first unofficial depth chart heading into the preseason.
Even with that, the job has not been locked up.
Lance was given the start in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans, a chance to add to his case in live game action. That matters, because the Chargers are still sorting out whether the former No. 3 overall pick is the right man to sit behind Herbert when the games count.
Uiagalelei, though, has made this more than a routine camp storyline. The Chargers were encouraged by what he showed during the offseason, and the team specifically pointed to how sharp he looked in spring practices while handling a bigger workload. That was enough to put him on the radar as a real challenger once training camp and preseason games rolled around.
He also has something Lance doesn’t: a full year in the system. Uiagalelei joined the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2025, spent last season on the practice squad and then signed a futures contract in January. That extra time around the building has given him more familiarity with what the organization wants.
Lance still brings the heavier NFL résumé, along with more league experience. And the Chargers clearly believe there is still something there to develop, with Justin Herbert recently adding his own support for the team’s confidence in Lance.
But none of that guarantees anything.
This is the part of the competition where the preseason can start to tilt the picture. Lance got the first shot against Houston, and Uiagalelei will get his own opportunities to show the gap between them may not be as wide as their backgrounds suggest.
The Chargers are not looking for a headline act behind Herbert. They want reliability.
If Herbert has to miss time, they need someone who can be trusted to handle the offense. That puts decision-making, consistency and command right alongside arm strength in the evaluation.
So Lance remains the favorite to open the season as QB2. But Uiagalelei has done enough to keep the race alive, and if Lance slips this preseason, the Chargers could find themselves with a much tougher call than they expected.
In Other News...
Amar Johnson Just Turned Up The Heat In The Chargers Backfield
Amar Johnson spent the preseason game against Houston showing why the Chargers backfield is starting to feel crowded in a hurry. He handled six carries for 17 yards and added two catches for 68 yards, flashing the kind of versatility that can make a young running back stand out when roster spots are at a premium.
Johnson also gave Los Angeles a look at what he can do as a receiver, which matters in a room that already includes Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Greg DeRosiers and Jared Patterson. The Chargers are sorting through a lot of competition at one position, and Johnsons night at least made the conversation a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Roster Battle Just Got Tougher After What Happened In Houston
The Chargers got another look at the back end of their roster picture in Houston, where several fringe players made a case to stick around. Jahmeer Carter, Jake Slaughter, Keandre Lambert-Smith, Marlowe Wax, Amar Johnson and DJ Uiagalelei each had moments that matter in August, the kind of snaps coaches and front office staff lean on when the decision-making gets tougher later in camp. It is the sort of preseason performance that can help a player climb from the outside of the conversation to the edge of it.
Amar Johnson, in particular, added some real intrigue with a showing that caught the attention of the sideline, while Uiagaleleis night also gave the staff a chance to evaluate him in game action. For a team sorting through the final layers of its roster, games like this can quietly shape the last few spots and special teams depth, even if the bigger names barely enter the discussion. The Texans matchup did not settle anything, but it did make the competition a little more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Front Seven Could Steal L.A. Bragging Rights From The Rams
The two teams sharing SoFi Stadium are heading into the season with very different defensive vibes. The Rams made the louder offseason splash with aggressive moves for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, and there is still intrigue around whether Aaron Donald might come back into the picture. The Chargers, by contrast, were quieter in free agency, but their 2025 defense already showed real promise, especially up front, and that has kept them in the conversation in a town where every edge gets compared.
Training camp has only sharpened that view, with the Chargers front seven drawing steady attention as a group that could change the way the race for L.A. bragging rights looks this fall. First-round pick Akheem Mesidor has been part of that buzz, and the broader expectation is that both defenses should be better at getting to the quarterback. For the Chargers, the question is whether a less flashy offseason can still translate into the kind of pass-rush improvement that makes the rest of the city notice. [Read more 🡒]