Heading into the 2025 offseason, Taylor Heinicke seemed like a lock for the Los Angeles Chargers' backup quarterback job. But a few shaky performances this preseason, combined with the rise of Trey Lance, have put Heinicke in a tricky spot.
Heading into the team's final preseason game, Heinicke no longer has the second-string job secured. Now, he needs a stellar performance just to keep his spot on the roster.
Chargers QB Taylor Heinicke is one bad performance from losing his roster spot
Heinicke has put together a storybook NFL career. After going undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2015, he's become one of the most consistent backup quarterbacks in the league over the last decade. But it looks like his time in the NFL, or at least with the Chargers, may be coming to an end.
LA traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons before the start of the 2024 season to bring Heinicke in. He served as a major upgrade at backup quarterback after the debacle Easton Stick put on display in 2023. Heinicke barely saw the field last season, attempting just five passes on the year.
When the Chargers signed Trey Lance back in April, it was a clear challenge to Heinicke's job. Lance hasn't come close to living up to his pre-draft billing, but his talent and potential far exceed the veteran.
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That difference has been abundantly clear this preseason. Heinicke has struggled, completing under 50% of his passes and failing to throw a touchdown. Meanwhile, Lance has enjoyed a mini-breakout, adding dynamism to LA's offense with his dual-threat ability.
With one preseason game to go, Lance seems to have usurped Heinicke for the backup quarterback role. Now, Heinicke needs to put on an impressive performance this weekend to keep his job. And he'll only have a couple of drives to do it.
Jim Harbaugh announced this week that both Lance and Heinicke will play limited snaps against the San Francisco 49ers. Per Yahoo! Sports, "Los Angeles will be resting the starters, including Justin Herbert. Instead, Trey Lance will start and play 1-2 series. Following Lance, Taylor Heinicke will play 1-2 series. Undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei will then finish out the game."
That gives Heinicke a minuscule chance to save his spot on the roster. He'll need to prove that his experience can win out over Lance's athleticism and arm talent. In all likelihood, his fate is already sealed.