Justin Herbert is firmly entrenched as the Los Angeles Chargers' franchise quarterback of the present and future. Who holds the clipboard for him in 2026 and beyond remains unclear, though Trey Lance may be running out of opportunities to prove himself.
Herbert has reportedly honed in on working on the fundamentals this offseason in preparation for life with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. The Chargers have taken a different approach heading into a pivotal campaign, giving Lance more chances to shine along the way, albeit to no avail.
Someone has capitalized on Herbert's load reduction — just not Lance; it's DJ Uiagalelei who's risen to the occasion, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.
Rhim identified Uiagalelei as Los Angeles' "biggest surprise" thus far during the club's workout program. That might spell trouble for Lance in due course, whether now or down the line.
"With Justin Herbert throwing little this offseason while focusing on footwork and mechanics, Uiagalelei has taken advantage of his reps," Rhim wrote. "The former undrafted free agent has been one of the Chargers' most impressive players, thriving on intermediate and deep throws. If that carries into training camp, Uiagalelei could challenge Trey Lance for the backup job."
DJ Uiagalelei emerging as Chargers' potential QB2 could leave Trey Lance scrambling
The Chargers re-signed Lance to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in March. His familiarity with the organization, demeanor and upside were selling points for a reunion. However, the length and value of the deal suggest he isn't locked into their short-term plans, let alone the long haul, especially if Uiagalelei's excelling.
Perhaps Lance isn't garnering the same attention because folks more or less know what he is at this stage of his career. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has settled into a veteran journeyman path. Nevertheless, with Uiagalelei applying pressure from behind, second-string duties in L.A. might be up for grabs.
Uiagalelei's name is about as polarizing as it is hard to spell and pronounce. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, listed as the No. 2 overall prospect of the 2020 class. Alas, his tantalizing combination of size (6-foot-4, 252 pounds), arm strength and athleticism didn't translate to the collegiate ranks.
If Uiagalelei can finally put it all together, there's a place for him in the pros. The fact that he's turning heads while battling for a spot on the Chargers' depth chart is definitely a step in the right direction. What his progression means for Lance remains to be seen, but the team will eventually have to choose between them (or neither).
Lance threw for 226 scoreless yards and an interception across four games (one start) last season. He posted a dismal 47.4 completion percentage, compared to the league-average rate of 64.3.
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