All eyes were on LA Chargers backup quarterback Easton Stick in the team's first preseason game of the year as Justin Herbert sat on the sideline in a walking boot due to a plantar fascia injury. Herbert probably wasn't going to play against the Seattle Seahawks regardless but his injury does make Stick's play all the more important.
While the expectation is Herbert will return for the start of the regular season, injuries do not always go exactly as expected. Plus, Herbert's injury is particularly tricky as he may have to play in serious pain and there could be a setback when he returns. That is what happened with Antonio Gates in 2010.
Thus, it is important to know whether or not the Chargers can stay afloat if Herbert is forced to missed a few games. If Herbert misses extended time then there is no chance of making a run in the playoffs. But if he is only missing a handful of games, the Chargers need someone at quarterback who won't actively lose games.
And if Saturday's preseason game proved anything, it is that Stick is someone who might actively lose games on the Chargers. After seeing Stick struggle mightily against Seattle it might be time for the Chargers to be more serious about the backup quarterback position.
Easton Stick may force Ryan Tannehill to the Chargers
Stick played the entire first half for the Chargers, completing five of 13 passes for 52 yards and one interception. As bad as the numbers were, they somehow do not tell the entire story as Stick looked even worse than his stats did.
If there is any chance whatsoever that Justin Herbert might be missing any time in 2024 then the Chargers need to be on the phone with Ryan Tannehill's agent as soon as possible. Tannehill is the best remaining free-agent quarterback and while he might not be the best, he is better than Stick.
Tannehill is exactly the kind of quarterback who can spot-start a few games for the Chargers and keep the team afloat. While he is not going to elevate the team to new heights, he won't actively sabotage the Bolts in the same way Stick might.
At the end of the day, Stick has shown time and time again he isn't suited to be a true backup quarterback. After not getting any regular-season time with years of preseason struggles, Stick was presented the chance to start four games at the end of the 2023 season.
Stick was bad. There were moments where he played well but overall, he proved he is not good enough to be a traditional backup quarterback. Yet the Chargers brought him back, likely in good faith to Justin Herbert because of their relationship. After all, the Chargers re-hired a Herbert favorite to be the team's new quarterbacks coach.
The Chargers have to put winning above all else. If Herbert was completely healthy then Stick's bad play would be a nonstory. But that is not the reality and on Saturday, Stick may have given the Chargers a reality check.