Taylor Heinicke headed west. The Los Angeles Chargers need more than franchise quarterback Justin Herbert after acquiring Heinicke in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
Heinicke joins Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. on the Falcons roster. It was surprisingly listed later. The deadline for listing is Tuesday. But the Chargers found the team they needed after backup Easton Stick struggled in the preseason and released Luis Perez on Tuesday.
Herbert has returned to practice after suffering from plantar fasciitis, but manager Jim Harbaugh needs a more reliable replacement than Stick through 2024. Heinicke doesn’t think it’s a sure thing, but he has experience and expertise with power-ups. The team as a facilitator.
Heinicke played for the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington and Falcons, appearing in 38 games and starting 29 with a 13-15-1 record. In his career, he threw for 6,635 yards, 39 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
He hasn’t appeared this preseason, completing 45.5 percent of 44 passes for 206 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. But Stick also completed 45.5 percent of his passes in the preseason, posting 303 yards and a TD with three key interceptions. Stick also played significant minutes last season when Herbert had finger surgery. The Chargers went 0-4.
So a new QB2 could go coast to coast to join Herbert, Harbaugh and the Bolts.
