The Chargers still haven’t gotten the clarity they wanted behind Justin Herbert, and that leaves Trey Lance in an interesting spot as roster cuts draw near.
After three preseason games, Los Angeles has spent the summer sorting through its backup quarterback race without landing on a clean answer. Lance and DJ Uiagalelei were the names in the mix, and while Lance had the edge through the first two exhibitions, the finale shifted the conversation.
In those first two games, Lance went 22 of 36 for 223 yards with an interception and added 69 rushing yards. Then came the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, where he was on the field for just two possessions and didn’t complete a pass.
One series stalled out with a three-and-out. The other ended with Lance getting sacked on fourth down.
Uiagalelei, meanwhile, finished 11 of 18 for 141 yards and looked more comfortable running the offense.
That doesn’t automatically mean the Chargers should move on from Lance. It does, though, make it fair to ask whether they should at least see what the market looks like.
Lance still carries real name value as the former No. 3 overall pick, and the traits that once made him such a sought-after prospect are still there. He’s 26, he’s got physical tools, and he’s worked in multiple offensive systems. For a team that needs quarterback help, that profile can still hold appeal.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has not named a backup yet, so Lance remains in the picture. If the Chargers believe he’s the best answer behind Herbert, they should keep him. A reliable backup matters, and one injury can change everything fast.
But if the staff thinks Uiagalelei offers more upside in Mike McDaniel’s offense, or if they simply aren’t sold on Lance, there’s no reason not to listen if another team comes calling.
Los Angeles doesn’t have to force anything. It just makes sense to find out what Lance is worth.
His last preseason showing didn’t help, but the upside that once made him such a hot commodity hasn’t disappeared. For now, he’s still a Charger. The bigger question is whether that should remain the case once the phones start ringing.
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