Preseason football is not about wins and losses. It's all about what you can find out about your team. In a 16-3 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night, Jim Harbaugh should have one main takeaway from his team: the backup quarterback position is an issue.
Most teams don't place a ton of worry on the backup spot. The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of those. With a star in Justin Herbert, it seems the thought has been that anyone capable of running the scout team in practices can hold the job. But since Easton Stick has had to take on a more meaningful role, it's being put further under the microscope.
Stick was not good against Seattle, completing just five of his 13 pass attempts for 31 yards while also throwing an interception. With Herbert nursing a plantar fascia injury, this could soon become a big problem.
Chargers need to evaluate backup QB spot intensely
This should now be a wide-open competition. The hope will be that Herbert can suit up and play the entire 17-game season, but a plantar fascia injury can be tough to deal with and he will likely have to manage it all season.
If there is any chance that another quarterback has to make a spot-start here and there, the Chargers have to do better than Stick. Luis Perez, Max Duggan and Casey Bauman are also on the roster but if none of them can easily surpass Stick in the pecking order, a trade for someone like Tyler Huntley or Taylor Heinicke needs to be considered.
The Chargers' next preseason game will take place this Saturday versus the Los Angeles Rams.
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