The 2025-26 season has finished for the Los Angeles Chargers after losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC wildcard round, 3-16.
LA is already looking ahead and making adjustments for next season, including parting ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
One NFL writer believes the Bolts should begin retaining key pieces for Jim Harbaugh’s third season as head coach, including resigning a member of the Chargers offense.
Resigning A First Round Pick
GettyThe Bolts may need to find a new backup quarterback
The Los Angeles Chargers will have their franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert , , but will need a steady, reliable backup for the future.
Trey Lance signed a one-year deal to be behind Herbert on the depth chart and learn from both him and Jim Harbaugh.
While the former North Dakota State Bison didn’t feature much this season for the Bolts, but looks to be a key piece in Los Angeles.
NFL writer Nick Shook urges the Chargers to retain Lance and make sure he doesn’t test the waters in free agency.
“This may seem a bit outlandish to those who watched Lance’s final outing in a backup-filled Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos …But the former No. 3 overall pick looked miles ahead of where he’d been for most of his career during 2025 preseason action — and in a league that has seen more than 60 quarterbacks start a game this season, backups are important,” Shook wrote.
“With another year of learning under his belt, Lance could be positioned to keep the ship afloat if Justin Herbert — who suffered significant carnage in 2025 — is forced to miss time at some point next season. Ideally, the returns of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt reduce the possibility of that happening, but it’s better to have Lance available than a lesser option.”
Lance played in four games this season, starting in the final game of the regular season due to Herbert getting rested for the playoffs. The former third-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft registered 227 passing yards this season on 27 completions.
The quarterback shone in the preseason, recording 334 passing yards and 3 touchdown passes on 32 completions, while throwing for 1 interception. Lance also ran for 81 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.
Retaining Lance also adds comfort in the quarterback room, without having to worry about finding a new option.
Jim Harbaugh On Trey Lance
GettyTrey Lance received some praise from his head coach
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh seems to be a fan of Trey Lance, giving the quarterback some praise after the Hall of Fame game win over the Detroit Lions .
“There’s a presence that I’ve been seeing all [training] camp, he’s had a heck of a camp, then he went out in the game and did that,” Harbaugh said , via the NFL website. “Just the feeling of – he needs game reps and he’s going to get them. It was a great start for him.”
Lance had his best preseason outing in the HoF game, logging in 120 passing yards, 2 pass touchdowns and 8 rushing yards.
With the right coaching, Lance could show the true potential he had when he was taken as the third overall pick a few years ago.
The quarterback will be 26 years old by the time the 2026 season starts, still having the rest of his career to go.
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