New Charges QB Luis Perez sparks conspiracies with uniform number choice

Less than a week after it was announced Justin Herbert would spend at least two weeks in a walking boot the LA Chargers added to the quarterback room. It was not a familiar name fans were familiar with as the team signed UFL standout Luis Perez to a one-year contract.

Perez is merely competing for a depth spot on the roster and signing him does not really tell fans much about Herbert's status. If the Chargers signed someone like Ryan Tannehill then that would all but guarantee Herbert's recovery might be slower than expected. But with Perez, no such intel is available.

That being said, Perez still has a chance to make the roster considering Easton Stick has been less-than-impressive in training camp thus far. If Perez can impress his new coaching staff in practice and in preseason games then there is no telling what could happen. Stick's spot on the roster certainly isn't etched in stone.

If Perez does impress the team enough to make the 53-man roster then he will have to change his number, though. Perez trotted out to the practice field for the first time with the Chargers on Wednesday and was wearing a familiar number: No. 11.

New Chargers QB Luis Perez is wearing Cameron Dicker's number

Cameron Dicker has cemented himself as a fan favorite after just two seasons by being one of the most accurate kickers in the league. Dicker has continued that trend during training camp and genuinely looks to be on the precipice of proving to the rest of the league that he is one of the best.

Dicker switched from No. 15 to No. 11 last season, which has many fans turning their heads at this number selection. Are the Chargers outright telling us Perez won't make the roster? Is Dicker going to change his number for the third season in a row?

While either of those outcomes is theoretically possible, the real answer is rather simple. There are only so many numbers to give out, especially lower numbers.

It is not uncommon for players to share uniform numbers during training camp and that is already happening with one quarterback and special teams player. Quarterback Casey Bauman and punter J.K. Scott are both wearing No. 16 during camp, for example.

Barring a surprise uniform change from Dicker that makes No. 11 available, Perez will not be wearing that number if he makes the team this season. It is much more likely he would get a single-digit number, such as No. 8, which currently belongs to fellow quarterback Max Duggan.