Quarterback Trey Lance reached settlement on a one-year deal value as much as $6.2 million with the Los Angeles Chargers, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
Lance and Taylor Heinicke at the moment are the backups behind Chargers starter Justin Herbert.
Herbert has been probably the most sturdy quarterbacks within the NFL over his first 5 seasons. He began 62 consecutive video games to start his profession, which was the second-longest energetic streak within the NFL, earlier than a fractured proper index finger in Week 14 of 2023 ended his season.
Nonetheless, Herbert has performed by means of accidents, and though he did not miss a recreation in 2024, he was usually hobbled and missed snaps or quarters. The harm bug started in coaching camp when a plantar fascia analysis stored him out for 2 weeks. Herbert suffered a excessive ankle sprain in Week 2 that he aggravated the next week, and he navigated a thigh bruise and a separate ankle harm later within the yr.
Lance offers the Chargers one other competent backup choice — together with Heinicke, who appeared in 4 video games final season — if Herbert misses time. The signing additionally doubtless implies that Easton Stick, the Chargers’ third-string quarterback final season, will doubtless not be again.
The No. 3 choose within the 2021 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Lance stays one thing of a thriller even after 4 seasons within the league.
He began 4 video games in two years with San Francisco, posting a 2-2 file whereas throwing for 797 yards, 5 touchdowns and three interceptions on 56-of-102 passing. An ankle harm price him his beginning job, resulting in Brock Purdy’s run of success with the Niners.
In 2023, the Dallas Cowboys acquired Lance for a fourth-round choose in final yr’s draft, however he didn’t play a snap in 2023 and noticed solely spot obligation in 2024 till beginning the regular-season finale in opposition to the Washington Commanders — finishing 20 of 34 passes for 244 yards with out a landing or interception, and working for 26 yards on six carries in a 23-19 last-second loss.
He additionally performed nearly all of the snaps in final yr’s preseason for the Cowboys, finishing 73 of 113 passes for 662 yards and two touchdowns, however he threw 5 interceptions within the preseason finale in opposition to the Chargers.
Lance, 24, is youthful than 2024 first-round picks Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. Former coach Mike McCarthy stated Lance simply wanted to proceed to realize expertise as a result of he performed solely 19 video games at North Dakota State earlier than getting into the NFL.
ESPN’s Kris Rhim and Todd Archer contributed to this report.
