As Trey Lance is well aware, the Los Angeles Chargers have plenty of reason to have high expectations for Justin Herbert in 2026. Herbert continued to prove his place as the team’s franchise quarterback. However, the preseason has revealed something about the quarterback room that might need a complete overhaul: Herbert’s backup.
The first two preseason games were nothing short of disappointing for Trey Lance. While DJ Uiagalelei was impressive in Week 1 in his production, his Week 2 showing was far less so.
If Jim Harbaugh decides to reroll the backup situation in Los Angeles, he will have a potentially short window to reshuffle things heading into the season. The biggest question is whether Lance survives the cutdown, but if he does not and Uiagalelei becomes the backup, it will open a slot in the third-string spot. Here’s a look at some options that could be available for Harbaugh in the coming days.
Additional Logical Chargers Backup Quarterback Options to Replace Trey Lance As Preseason Winds Down
#3 – Jack Strand
Jack Strand wasn’t drafted in April, but the rookie impressed in Week 2 of preseason action against the Indianapolis Colts with 212 passing yards. If Atlanta decides to keep Strand as a practice squad quarterback or lets him out the door without much invested, the Chargers should have every reason to jump on the chance to get the quarterback.
Strand was a Division II quarterback, which might be the reason he doesn’t stick around with the Falcons.
In addition to his impressive performance in Week 2 of the preseason, Strand entered the NFL with the 10th most career passing yards in Division II football, per Falcons media.
#2 – Diego Pavia
Diego Pavia could be signed at any moment. After his short-lived stint in Baltimore, the quarterback has seemingly all but erased any chances to become a successor in the NFL. With his ceiling seemingly set to be a backup this year, the Chargers could be a solid opportunity if he were to be added as a third-string quarterback.
Pavia finished second in Heisman voting and led the SEC in completion percentage.
If the Chargers want a backup quarterback who could keep the team alive for a short stint without Herbert, Pavia could be that.
#1 – Aidan O’Connell
The Las Vegas Raiders won’t know who their starting quarterback will be in two or three months, but they know who will not be. With Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins set to alternate at least for 2026, Aidan O’Connell is set up to be the odd man out. The quarterback isn’t going down without a fight, however, after he led the Raiders on a Tom Brady-esque Super Bowl comeback against the Houston Texans. The Chargers need a quarterback with that kind of fight.
O’Connell is also well-versed in the AFC West, so he would have plenty of experience and background knowledge to lean on. If the Raiders move on or O’Connell asks for a release, Jim Harbaugh should be waiting with a contract in hand.