The Los Angeles Chargers have little to play for in Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. While they could choose to jockey for playoff positioning, they are locked in as a Wild Card team in the AFC. Additionally, there is always the chance that a loss to the Broncos secures them their ideal first-round matchup.
Therefore, the most likely scenario is that Justin Herbert, who is still nurturing the hand injury that threatened him after the bye week, gets the chance to rest.
This would leave backup quarterback Trey Lance with the prime opportunity to prove his value ahead of his free agency this offseason.
Although the Chargers-Broncos matchup likely won't be primetime viewing, this storyline could provide some intrigue as the regular season comes to a close.
Trey Lance could be in search of a better situation this offseason
After being selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Lance never truly found his footing in The Bay Area. He was, rather famously, passed over in favor of Brock Purdy as the starter as a result of injury and inconsistent play.
He then spent one season with the Dallas Cowboys before signing a contract with the Chargers this past offseason.
He has shown flashes of an explosive athletic ability in his young career, but his instability as a passer and lack of confidence in the pocket have limited his ceiling as an NFL player. Putting up a solid performance against a Broncos defense who will be fighting for the one-seed will be a tall challenge, but Lance could be just effective enough to garner him some looks this offseason.
In the five games he's started in his career, he's completed 66 of his 117 passes for 879 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 213 yards on 46 attempts.
Obviously, this will be a scheduled loss for the Chargers with Lance in the game. However, as he approaches 26 years old, could he be on the hunt for a situation that gives him a better path to a starting job.
Not only is Justin Herbert cemented as one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks, but he has missed just five games in his seven-season career due to injury. If Lance wants a chance to start in his career, his best shot is to sign with a team where there will be at least a semblance of a competition for the quarterback position.
If he starts against the Broncos, it could represent his prime opportunity to audition for such a role.