Trey Lance took full advantage of the first preseason game of 2025, displaying poise and playmaking in the Los Angeles Chargers’ 34-7 romp over the Detroit Lions in Thursday night’s Hall of Fame Game.
“Big night for Trey. Just played calm, cool, collected, ran the operation, threw the ball really well,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said.
Lance played the first three quarters, completing 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. L.A. took advantage of five Lions turnovers, consistently playing on short fields.
Facing Detroit backups, Lance consistently made the proper reads, didn’t look too flustered, and showed accuracy on the move. The 25-year-old tossed several nice balls, including a sideline shot to KeAndre Lambert-Smith and a on-the-money slant to KLS for a touchdown versus a Lions blitz.
Harbaugh was impressed with how Lance took the opportunity and ran with it.
“Usually you can predict. If somebody is playing good in practice, they play good in the games pretty much at all positions,” Harbaugh said via the team’s official website. “Quarterback is no different, until you see them in the game in that 11-on-11. I thought he had the same kind of composure and poise and in control.”
Since entering the NFL in 2021 as the No. 3 overall pick, Lance hasn’t had many opportunities to display his development. The QB was injured early in his career in San Francisco, then leapfrogged by Brock Purdy for the 49ers’ starting gig, and spent last year as the Cowboys’ QB3.
“There’s a presence that I’ve been seeing all camp, he’s had a heck of a camp, then he went out in the game and did that,” Harbaugh added. “Just the feeling of — he needs game reps and he’s going to get them. It was a great start for him.”
Lance is battling Taylor Heinicke for the backup gig behind Justin Herbert.
“I was excited to be able to play and I was excited we got this fourth preseason game. If they told me I could play four full games, then I’d be fired up about it,” Lance said after the win.
It’s positive to see development from Lance, who has seen far too little game action in his career, dating back to his college days. The missed college games are a well-known story at this stage. In five NFL seasons, Lance has attempted 143 regular-season passes — that’s like a month-worth of passes for Patrick Mahomes.
It was just one game against backups and many players who won’t make an initial 53-man roster. And yes, there were still things for Lance to clean up — like playing better from the pocket and negating some of the low throws — but all in all, it was good to see him have positive progression after a career of roadblocks.
“Going into free agency this offseason, my goal was to take a big step in my career,” Lance said. “I want to be a starter one day. That’s my goal and I believe it will happen. I’m just waiting for my opportunity. Coming the Chargers, Justin [Herbert] is obviously a great guy to learn from. Great situation for me to be in.”
