Throughout his first seven months on the job, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has repeatedly used a phrase to describe the culture and mindset he wants to create in Los Angeles.
Competitors, welcome.
Harbaugh and Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz want it to be known that — aside for a handful of big names on the roster — that players must earn their spots on the roster ... and keep earning them every day.
The Bolts traded for quarterback Taylor Heinicke on Thursday, a move that signals the Chargers front office and coaching staff saw the need for a better backup quarterback option behind Justin Herbert.
The Chargers sent a 2025 seventh-round pick to Atlanta that converts into a 2025 sixth-round pick should specific conditions be met.
Let's be clear here: Herbert is the face of the franchise and one of the league's absolute best players at his position.
And if he has to miss extended time, life will be tough for the Bolts, something we saw firsthand in the final month of the 2023 season.
The hope is that Heinicke obviously never sees the field for the Bolts and instead serves as Herbert's backup this season.
But in the event that Heinicke has to play, he should be able to provide a baseline level of play that can help the Chargers stay afloat when he's leading the huddle.
Heinicke has endured a winding road through the NFL thus far.
He initially spent time with the Vikings before landing in Houston and Carolina for a season apiece.
Heinicke's big break came in 2021 when he started 15 games for Washington, posting a 7-8 record while throwing for nearly 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.
That 2021 season included four game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks. It seems like Heinicke is a gamer.
Heinicke then went 5-3-1 with Washington in 2022 before winning one of four starts with Atlanta a season ago.
Heinicke has started 29 games in his career and gone 13-15-1 when leading the charge.
With Heinicke being nearly a .500 quarterback as a starter, he can give the Bolts some juice if he needs to come in for Herbert.
Put another way, Heinicke raises the floor of the quarterback room now that he is in LA.
Herbert is the guy, yes, but Henicke is a more than capable backup who can help the Bolts in case the Bolts franchise quarterback has to miss time.
