Los Angeles Chargers need to move on from the Easton Stick experiment

Tyler Schoon

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Los Angeles Chargers need to move on from the Easton Stick experiment image

The Los Angeles Chargers might have finally seen enough to comfortably move on from Easton Stick as the team's primary backup.

Stick, the team's fifth-round selection of the 2019 NFL draft, has regressed in an alarming way this offseason. His 14.6 passer rating last week was the worst of his career. Jim Harbaugh let practice play out and named Stick the starter this week against the Rams. The outcome was not much prettier: Eight completions on 13 passing attempts for 85 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a 48.6 passer rating. Stick also fumbled at the goal line, killing the team's best drive of the day.

The Chargers may keep three quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster so long as there is uncertainty regarding Justin Herbert's game day availability. Jim Harbaugh may not be ready to hand the QB2 job to recently-signed Luis Perez, but he may be willing to let him take the emergency quarterback spot. That would prompt general manager Joe Hortiz to look at a veteran free agent like Ryan Tannehill or someone potentially on the trade or cut market like Tyler Huntley, Taylor Heinicke, and PJ Walker.

Regardless, it's time to find someone else to back up Herbert and give the team a chance in the event of an unfortunate injury. Look for the Chargers to be active when roster cuts happen. 

Tyler Schoon

Tyler Schoon Photo

Tyler Schoon began covering the Chargers in 2017 as a contributor at Bolt Beat before moving to the Site Expert role in 2019. In 2020, he co-founded the Guilty As Charged Podcast, which regularly live streams and uploads to YouTube and audio platforms and was featured weekly during the 2023 NFL season on the Chargers’ team channels.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology from CSUF and a Master of Arts in Teaching from UCI. Tyler is a science teacher and resides in Orange County with his wife and their dog Galadriel.