The Los Angeles Chargers suffered an injury scare early in training camp when quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a plantar fascia injury. While the team believed Herbert would return before Week 1, it raised the possibility of Easton Stick becoming the Chargers starting quarterback.
As Herbert slowly progressed through rest and rehabilitation, Stick received all the first-team reps he could handle in Chargers training camp. Los Angeles also gave him extensive reps in the preseason, where the veteran statistically rated as one of the worst NFL quarterbacks this summer.
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- Easton Stick preseason stats (ESPN): 25-of-55 passes completed (45.5% completion rate), 303 passing yards, 5.5 yards per attempt, 1-1 TD-INT, 46.3 QB rating
Stick, age 28, has been around to play for multiple Chargers head coaches. While he does have a career 85.7 QB rating with a 3-1 TD-INT ratio, he is generally viewed as one of the worst backup quarterbacks in the NFL. With that in mind, we’re identifying some potential upgrades to become the Chargers backup quarterback in case Herbert suffers a setback or is greatly limited by his injury.
Tyler Huntley, Cleveland Browns
We’d originally planned to highlight Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the former UCLA Bruins star, as one of the Chargers quarterback targets. The second-year quarterback popped up in NFL trade rumors last week and seemed to be available at a reasonable price. Now, Thompson-Robinson is staying in Cleveland while both Tyler Huntley and Jameis Winston are being floated in NFL rumors.
- Tyler Huntley stats (ESPN): 64.6% completion rate, 8-7 TD-INT ratio, 5.7 yards per attempt, 1,957 passing yards, 509 rushing yards 4.4 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns in 20 games
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Huntley stands out as the perfect option to become the Chargers backup quarterback in 2024. Only 26 years old, he could conceivably even be pursued as a long-term No. 2 option for Los Angeles. While his 2022 Pro Bowl selection was a fluke, he’s filled in admirably as the Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback in the past and knows Greg Roman’s system very well. Familiarity with the Chargers playbook makes Huntely the top option for Los Angeles.
C.J. Beathard, free agent
The Jacksonville Jaguars released backup quarterback C.J. Beathard with an injury settlement, but there’s no indication his availability for the 2024 NFL season is in jeopardy. With Stick never truly providing reliability as a fill-in quarterback, Beathard stands out as an upgrade.
- C.J. Beathard stats (ESPN): 82.1 QB rating, 19-14 TD-INT, 3,886 passing yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 19-14 TD-INT ratio, 60.4% completion rate
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Beathard saw the field in seven games last season, completing 75.5 percent of his 53 attempts and averaging a 98.7 QB rating on 6.6 yards per attempt. He’s filled in admirably with both the Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers, with his stint in San Francisco coming after Harbaugh and Roman left.
Ryan Tannehill, free agent
There’s certainly a case to be made against the Chargers signing a backup quarterback who hasn’t played since the 2023 season. Ryan Tannehill still doesn’t have a home, but the 36-year-old quarterback did indicate that might be more due to preference.
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“Just because I’ve done it for so long. … I’m staying in shape and staying ready if the right thing pops up. … [But] right now, it’s gonna depend on situation. … I’m not just gonna continue to add years to add years. … I’m not ruling anything out, but it’s gonna have to be the right situation for me and my family.
Ryan Tannehill on remaining unsigned (H/T CBS Sports)
Perhaps signing with the Chargers to play a role where he’d be an obvious backup isn’t appealing. With that said, Los Angeles does have a strong offensive line and Tannehill’s struggles in recent seasons were largely because he played behind one of the worst NFL offensive lines. He could be an excellent veteran to put around Herbert and he’s a better fill-in option for a few games if the Chargers are forced to sit Herbert due to injury.
