The Los Angeles Chargers were expected by many to make a move to upgrade their backup quarterback position and they have now taken the steps to do that. On Wednesday evening, the team acquired Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons.
In exchange, the Chargers will send the Falcons a conditional sixth-round pick.
The Cleveland Browns were looked at as a team the Chargers could be eyeing for a resolution, but they kept four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. Heinicke was a clear option and I wrote about that here about three weeks ago. It has now come to fruition.
The Falcons have traded QB Taylor Heinicke to the Chargers, sources tell @JoshTheAthletic and me
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 28, 2024
Heinicke was surprisingly kept on the Falcons' 53-man roster despite the team having Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., but they likely figured a team could come calling.
Taylor Heinicke takes over as QB2 for Chargers
The Chargers initially kept Easton Stick, despite an ugly preseason that saw him complete less than 50 percent of his throws while throwing an interception in every game. This likely brings an end to his five-year stay with the team.
Heinicke is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. He has completed 62.5 percent of his career passes while throwing for over 6,600 yards with 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
The Chargers have a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback in Justin Herbert. But with him potentially dealing with a plantar fascia injury for most, if not all, of the 2024 season, the team now has a backup it can confidently fall back on.
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