The biggest storyline surrounding the LA Chargers' preseason was Justin Herbert's injured foot and the disastrous backup quarterback competition that was happening. Herbert's foot is no longer an issue as he is reportedly entering the season pain-free and the same can be said for the backup QB position.
The Chargers traded a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick, which can convert to a sixth-round pick if certain conditions are met, to the Atlanta Falcons for Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke has legitimate starting experience in the NFL and is a much better backup option than Stick.
Many expect Stick to be signed to the practice squad but with Tyler Huntley becoming available, the Chargers could theoretically part ways with Stick altogether and bring in someone better to compete with Heinicke for the backup QB role.
However, it does not appear that will be the case. When discussing the backup quarterback competition and how the team approaches the position, head coach Jim Harbaugh all but confirmed that Stick is sticking around.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh refers to Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke as a "competition" for backup QB.
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) August 29, 2024
Jim Harbaugh confirms Easton Stick will stay on the Chargers
Not only did Harbaugh confirm that Stick will stay on the Chargers to compete for the backup quarterback position, but he went into depth about how the backup quarterbacks cannot compare themselves to Herbert.
Harbaugh said that Herbert is "un-replicable" (isn't that the truth!) and that Heinicke and Stick have to "play their own games". That sounds like a head coach that is committing to keeping Stick in the building, largely because of his relationship with Herbert.
In the grand scheme of things this is not the worst thing in the world. If the Chargers get down to their third-string quarterback then the team probably isn't making the playoffs anyway. As a third-string quarterback who is sticking around to help Herbert, Stick is fine.
What the Chargers need to avoid is keeping Stick on the 53-man roster. The Chargers waived JT Woods, Jaret Patterson and Tony Jefferson to create roster space for new faces Hassan Haskins, Elijah Molden and Heinicke.
Jefferson will likely be elevated the first few weeks of the regular season before being signed to the active roster. That roster manipulation makes it easier to explain carrying three quarterbacks but over the course of the entire season, it is a wasted roster spot to keep Stick active.
A far better long-term use of Stick is to have him on the practice squad. No other team is going to claim him or sign him away after the preseason he had, so there really is no risk of him leaving. Plus, if he does leave, is that really the worst thing in the world for the Chargers? Probably not.
Either way, Stick is not going anywhere anytime soon. Chargers fans just have to hope that he doesn't stay on the 53-man roster long-term.