The Los Angeles Chargers today announced the team has acquired quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons. In exchange, the Chargers will send a 2025 7th round pick to Atlanta that converts into a 2025 6th round pick should specific conditions be met.
In other moves, the Chargers released safety Tony Jefferson and waived running back Jaret Patterson. The team also signed center Sam Mustipher and tight end Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad and released cornerback Robert Kennedy from the practice squad.
Heinicke comes to the City of Angels from Atlanta, where he started four-of-five games played for the Falcons in 2023. He spent the previous three seasons (2020-22) with the Washington Commanders, where he started 25-of-27 games played, including a start in the team's appearance in the 2020 NFC Wild Card. Heinicke originally was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 by the Vikings and has also spent time in the NFL with the Patriots, Texans and Panthers. He saw the most action of his career in 2021 with the Commanders, where he started 15-of-16 games and threw for 3,419 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also running for another score.
Over four seasons (2011-14) at Old Dominion, Heinicke appeared in 48 games and finished his Monarchs career as the program's all-time leader in passing yards (14,959), touchdown passes (132), completions (1,238), pass attempts (1,829) and completion percentage (67.7). On top of first-team All-America honors, Heinicke was named the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year and the recipient of the Walter Payton Award following his sophomore season, which annually recognizes the best FCS player. That year, Heinicke led the Monarchs to an 11-2 record and passed for an FCS-record 5,076 yards and 44 touchdowns, while adding 470 yards and 11 scores on the ground. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, earning third-team All-CAA honors.
