Easton Stick has been given a long leash by the Los Angeles Chargers, for reasons no one can seem to figure out.
The talk of the team's backup quarterback position took over preseason headlines when it was revealed that starting quarterback Justin Herbert had suffered a plantar fascia injury. As long as Herbert has been the team's QB, the backup position hasn't been a concern because, for the most part, it has literally been for a player to carry a clipboard.
But after missing the last four games of the 2023 season, and now having an injury that is proven to be one that can linger, it has been put under a microscope.
Easton Stick has seen an uptick in playing time since then and he has fallen quite flat. Yet, the team still keeps him on the roster.
Easton Stick played as poorly as any QB in the preseason
The Chargers recently made a trade to acquire Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons, a great move that gives the team one of the league's best backup quarterbacks. Many assumed that Stick would be cut from the 53-man roster at that point, but he remains.
To a degree, that part makes sense as Heinicke will need to get familiar with the offense. Still, the idea that Stick would likely be the starting quarterback if Herbert had a setback and couldn't play early in the season is a scary one.
Stick didn't even outplay the competition in camp. Luis Perez, a guy who wasn't even in the NFL when camp opened, looked much better in the first two preseason games. The team chose to let Stick play the entire preseason finale and, aside from a 78-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko, he looked terrible.
Stick completed less than 50 percent of his throws in the preseason and threw an interception in all three games. Yet, guys like Tre'Mon Morris-Brash and Tony Jefferson, who were terrific in the preseason, were relegated to the practice squad.
Roster building in the NFL is not easy, but this move is a bit strange. Hopefully, Heinicke can pick things up quickly and the Chargers can move on from Stick.
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