Trey Lance Named QB1 for Chargers vs. Lions in 2025 NFL Hall of Fame Game

The Los Angeles Chargers are kicking off the 2025 NFL preseason with Trey Lance under center.

Lance will start on Thursday when the Chargers take on the Detroit Lions during the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters on Tuesday.

Harbaugh added that the game will not feature "veteran traditional staters," per the Los Angeles Times' Anthony De Leon.

The Hall of Fame Game is set to kick off on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, two days before the Class of 2025 is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Chargers are half-point underdogs against the Lions, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Detroit is a -122 moneyline favorite, while Los Angeles is +102.

Harbaugh said Tuesday that the plan is for Lance to play the first half and part of the third quarter on Thursday, per Chargers reporter Alex Insdorf.

The team then plans to give undrafted free agent DJ Uiagalelei the chance to make his NFL preseason debut in the second half, Harbaugh said.

Taylor Heinicke will serve as the Chargers' third-string option in case of emergency, while Justin Herbert will not dress, Harbaugh added.

Harbaugh said that Omarion Hampton, Tre' Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Zion Johnson and Derius Davis will also play on Thursday, per Insdorf.

Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Mekhi Becton, Bradley Bozeman, Derwin James, Daiyan Henley, Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman will be among the players sitting out, Insdorf reported.

"The opportunity is— it's like somebody's handing you this opportunity," Harbaugh said about the chance to play in the preseason. "I wish, and hope for all guys, that they come out of this game like Tony Jefferson came out of the Cowboys game last year, or Tre'mon Morris-Brash, his play, him scoring a touchdown.

"That juice that football gives you, I want them to experience that. And then I want to find as many of those kind of guys that can do it in the game situation as possible and help our football team."

Lance was projected as a QB1 when the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the No. 3 pick of the 2021 draft, but made just four starts with the Niners before losing his job to Brock Purdy.

He made no NFL appearances in 2023 but returned with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, where he earned limited playing time largely as a backup following Dak Prescott's season-ending injury.

Lance then joined the Chargers on a one-year deal this offseason in order to compete with Heinicke for the back-up spot behind Herbert.

Whether the Chargers continue considering Lance as a possible QB2 could be influenced by how well he handles the Bolts' second-string offense in his first NFL action since helping the Cowboys end the 2024 season with a Week 18 loss.