Editor's note: The original version of this article included an inaccurate quote from Luis Perez. The article has been updated accordingly.
The LA Chargers won their final preseason game of the year on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys and that was not even close to being the biggest news of the day. Instead, legendary quarterback Dan Fouts shared that Justin Herbert said he was completely pain-free in his injured right foot, raising the excitement for the 2024 season.
Herbert being full-speed ahead for the regular season does lower some of the concerns around the backup quarterback position. However, after seeing Easton Stick once again struggle across an entire game on Saturday, it is even more apparent the Chargers need to invest in the quarterback room.
Part of that investment will not include UFL standout, and San Diego native, Luis Perez. The Chargers signed Perez after Herbert's injury to compete for the backup quarterback position and on Saturday, the team showed its hand with its plans for Perez.
Perez did not play a single snap despite the belief heading in that he would back up Stick and play in the second half. It is not hard to see where this is going to go.
Luis Perez clearly does not have a future with the Chargers
If the Chargers were considering Perez to be the backup quarterback (or even a third-string quarterback on the practice squad) then he would have gotten playing time on Saturday. Instead, by handing him the DNP, the Chargers are making it clear he has no future with the team.
With how poorly Stick has played in the preseason and training camp it seems a bit unfair to not even give Perez a chance to steal the job in the preseason finale. However, it is not like Perez has been lighting the world on fire for the Chargers, either.
Perez completed 13 of 20 passes for 78 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams; in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, Perez completed five of 12 passes for 61 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He did not have a blow-up game, but Perez did not do nearly enough to earn a role in the quarterback room.
In reality, Stick may not even make the Chargers roster after another disappointing showing on Saturday. While he will likely make the 53-man roster as a placeholder, the Chargers have to do the due diligence of finding a better backup quarterback.
The most likely source of this backup quarterback is the Cleveland Browns, who have four talented quarterbacks and only three spots to give out. Once the roster cuts are official on Tuesday, the Chargers can waive Stick, sign him to the practice squad to keep him in the building and sign either Tyler Huntley or Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the 53-man roster.
There just is not any room for Perez, so there was no reason to even play him on Saturday. Hopefully, Perez can land on his feet elsewhere and carve out a place in the NFL.