NFL writer Nick Shook suggests the Chargers should start retaining key pieces for Jim Harbaugh’s third season as head coach, including resigning a member of the Chargers offense. The focal point of the argument is keeping Trey Lance as a valuable backup behind Justin Herbert. 🔁🧰
Lance signed a one-year deal to back up Herbert and learn behind the two, but didn’t see much action in 2025. He appeared in four games this season, logging 227 passing yards on 27 completions. In the 2025 preseason, he flashed more, with 334 passing yards and 3 TDs on 32 completions, plus 1 interception, along with 81 rushing yards and a rushing TD. Shook also noted that a healthy slate of returning blockers like Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt could reduce the risk if Herbert misses time, making Lance a safer, longer-term option. 📊🏃♂️
Jim Harbaugh has publicly praised Lance, highlighting the quarterback’s presence and the need for game reps as he develops. With Lance turning 26 by the start of the 2026 season, the right coaching could unlock the potential many once saw in him as the third overall pick. His continued development remains a notable part of the Chargers’ planning. 👀🏈
Retaining Lance would provide stability in the quarterback room and avoid a scramble for a new backup quarterback, aligning with Harbaugh’s timeline and the squad’s 2026 ambitions. This perspective—advocating to keep Lance as a key piece—appears prominently in Heavy Sports’ coverage of the Chargers’ offseason thinking. 🧭💡
