The new agreement is reportedly worth up to $6.75 million for the 2026 season. This move provides the Chargers with veteran insurance behind Herbert, especially after Lance showed flashes of his potential during the 2025 preseason and his lone regular-season start against the Denver Broncos.

With this latest contract, many fans are looking back at the financial trajectory of a player who has struggled to find a permanent starting role. Despite the “bust” labels frequently used by critics, Lance has managed to navigate the NFL’s financial landscape with incredible success since being drafted in 2021.

How much money has Trey Lance earned in the NFL?

By the time his new contract with the Chargers concludes, Trey Lance will have amassed over $42 million in career earnings. The foundation of his wealth was his fully guaranteed rookie contract with the San Francisco 49ers, which paid out approximately $34.1 million—including a massive $22.1 million signing bonus received on day one.

Following his stints in San Francisco and Dallas, Lance signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in 2025 worth roughly $2 million. His career cash flow entering this offseason stood at approximately $36.1 million, a figure that now jumps significantly with his latest $6.75 million commitment from the Los Angeles front office.

While his career statistics—including just six starts and five passing touchdowns—may not reflect his draft pedigree, his earnings certainly do. Lance remains one of the highest-paid backups in the league, and if he performs well in 2026, he could finally position himself for a more lucrative starting opportunity when he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027.

Can Trey Lance become the starting quarterback for the Chargers?

No, Trey Lance does not have a realistic chance to start for the Chargers in the 2026 season. He will serve as Justin Herbert’s backup and, unless the starter gets injured, he will remain as the QB2 for the entire campaign.

Jim Harbaugh has been very clear that he likes what he sees in Lance. The quarterback became a free agent this offseason, yet the head coach was very interested in the club re-signing him for one more year.

The Chargers face off against the Raiders in a crucial AFC West matchup in the 2025 NFL season. With the Kansas City Chiefs losing and the Denver Broncos set to take on the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, Los Angeles could really use a win to put the pressure on their divisional foes. However, it can never be stress-free for the franchise in the City of Angels.

As reported by the Chargers on their official X account (@chargers), Justin Herbert was questionable to return to the game with a left hand injury. However, after missing a couple of snaps, the Oregon product returned with a glove on his left hand.

Why is Herbert wearing a glove on his left hand?

As shown on the TV broadcast, Herbert had dislocated the ring finger on his left hand. By wearing the flashy white glove, the Chargers’ medical staff hope to keep the franchise quarterback out of harm’s way.

Fortunately for Herbert and the Chargers, his injury was on the left hand—his non-throwing hand. If Herbert had injured a finger on his right hand, then it could’ve spelled worse news for the Bolts, who are trying to sweep the season series against the Raiders.

In his first drive after returning from the locker room, Herbert led the team down the field with clinical passes. However, Herbert rolled the dice on a third-and-goal play, which came back to bite him and Los Angeles. A risky throw intended for Ladd McConkey led to an interception which wiped away all the progress made by Herbert and the Chargers.

The play occurred in the second quarter when the Jaguars’ number 95 slammed Herbert hard to the ground, immediately raising concerns about the Chargers’ starting QB. Lance had to take command of the offense while his teammate was being evaluated.

The good news was reported by LsBolts15 on X, who noted that Herbert was seen outside the blue tent jogging and appeared to be feeling better. He was eventually able to return to the game to try and mount an offense, but the Jaguars were in aggressive mode, winning nearly every battle for space.

What if Herbert was injured and couldn’t return?

The only option on the Chargers’ depth chart is Trey Lance; they do not have another available arm or a third quarterback. Therefore, their options would be limited if Herbert were sidelined. They would have to protect Lance fiercely, meaning the offensive line could not afford to let him be touched.

The season had started well for Herbert, but in this game against the Jaguars, there were unfortunate errors that overshadowed his performance from last week against the Steelers, where he threw for 220 yards and 1 touchdown to secure a win at home.

The Chargers’ next game

The Chargers have a bye in Week 12. They will return in Week 13 to play the Las Vegas Raiders at home. Following that, they have another home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which will be one of their final big regular-season matchups before playing on the road against the Chiefs and Cowboys.

After months of anticipation, football is finally back. The Hall of Fame Game between the Lions and Chargers officially kicked off the 2025 NFL season—and the result caught many by surprise.

The Chargers controlled the game from start to finish, defeating the Lions 34-7. Los Angeles impressed on offense, with Trey Lance leading the way and making an early statement with his new team.

Jim Harbaugh reacts to Trey Lance’s breakout performance in Hall of Fame Game

With preseason now underway, fans are eager to evaluate their teams’ depth. As tradition goes, the Hall of Fame Game opened the preseason slate, featuring the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers in this year’s edition.

Both teams primarily used second- and third-string players, reserving their starters. These early games are a key opportunity for fringe players to fight for a spot on the 53-man roster—and the Chargers may have found a standout in Lance.

Acquired this offseason by the Chargers, Trey Lance has had a turbulent NFL journey so far. Once a top draft pick, he’s now battling to prove he still belongs in the league.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh gave him the starting nod against Detroit, and Lance delivered—completing 13 of 20 passes for 120 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. It was one of his best performances in recent memory and a strong opening argument for a spot on the final roster.

“He hasn’t had a lot of game experience, and that’s what we’re trying to give him, and he acquitted himself well,” Harbaugh said. “Big night for Trey. Played calm, played cool, played collected, ran the operation, I thought he threw the ball really well. Big night for him.”

Will Trey Lance be Justin Herbert’s backup in 2025?

There’s no question that Justin Herbert is the Chargers’ starting quarterback. But behind him, the team needs a reliable option in case of injury—and Trey Lance is firmly in the mix for that backup job.

Lance is currently competing with Taylor Heinicke for the QB2 role. The Chargers are expected to closely monitor preseason performances, and Lance’s strong debut could give him the edge. If he can continue to build confidence and consistency, he may finally begin to live up to the promise that once made him a top NFL prospect.

The path taken by the 49ers’ current signal-caller was quite the opposite of that of Trey Lance — a player who entered the league with sky-high expectations. Selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the former North Dakota State standout didn’t enjoy the same fortune as his future teammate would just a short time later.

However, in a recent conversation with the media, Purdy made it clear that his relationship with Lance during their time together on the team was a strong and positive one.

“It’s tough, because Trey and I are tight, dude,” he said during a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Absolutely, we’re boys, and we’re bros.”

“I wanted nothing but the best for him, and I know he wanted that for me,” Purdy said. “But that’s just how this business goes and all that. When it did happen, we’re about to play our preseason game against the Chargers, and right before the game, they announced [the trade of Lance to the Cowboys], and I didn’t really know how to act or what to think. I was just like, ‘Man, I hope he can go to Dallas and compete and have a great opportunity.’”

A bond that remains

Brock Purdy’s impressive performances since bursting onto the scene ultimately led San Francisco to make a franchise-shifting decision — sending Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick, where he would compete for a backup role behind Dak Prescott.

Despite the situation, the current 49ers leader admitted that he maintains a good relationship with his former teammate, and that the two don’t discuss the specifics of the trade that sent Lance to Dallas.

“We’ve just texted each other, like, ‘Hey, dude, hope you’re doing good,’ like, randomly throughout the season, offseason, or whatever. ‘Hope you’re doing good,’ this and that. It’s really just been that,” Purdy said. “We haven’t really gotten to the details of, ‘Hey, how do you feel with this happening?’ or whatever. We just stay away from that.”

A new opportunity for Lance

Having a player of Dak Prescott’s caliber ahead of him on the depth chart made it extremely difficult for Lance to find playing time during his stint with the Cowboys. Fortunately for him, a new opportunity now presents itself ahead of the next NFL season, as he joined the Los Angeles Chargers to share a locker room with Justin Herbert.

There’s no doubt that Justin Herbert is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the AFC. The former Oregon standout is viewed as the franchise QB the Chargers have been searching for, but even he can’t carry the team alone.

Since his arrival, the Chargers have added several players to support him. Now, head coach Jim Harbaugh has strengthened the quarterback room with a former first-round pick.

Chargers acquire former No. 3 overall pick to back up Justin Herbert

No team relies solely on one quarterback, no matter how talented he is. While the Chargers have a solid starter in Justin Herbert, they need a dependable backup in case he becomes unavailable at any point.

Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Chargers assessed their quarterback room and realized it needed reinforcements. Although Taylor Heinicke is currently listed as the QB2, head coach Jim Harbaugh believed another signal-caller was necessary to create competition for the backup role.

On Friday, the Chargers signed Trey Lance to a one-year, $6.2 million deal, per Mike Garafolo. The former No. 3 overall pick is now set to play for his third NFL team, after previous stints with the 49ers and Cowboys.

Now that the Chargers have signed Trey Lance, questions still linger about his potential. He was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the 49ers but failed to meet expectations and was traded to the Cowboys last year for a fourth-round pick.

In Dallas, Lance couldn’t beat veteran Cooper Rush for the backup role. Even when Dak Prescott missed time due to injury, Lance started only one game—which he lost to the Washington Commanders.

Why did the Chargers sign Trey Lance?

Trey Lance’s arrival in Los Angeles has surprised many. The former North Dakota State star entered the league with sky-high expectations, but he has yet to prove himself at the pro level.

Still, Jim Harbaugh is viewed as a coach who could revive Lance’s career. In his first year with the Chargers, Harbaugh significantly elevated Justin Herbert’s game. Now, the team hopes he can do the same with Lance, giving them a much stronger backup quarterback option.

Last year, the team had to lean on Cooper Rush with Prescott on the sidelines. Trey Lance also got to see the field, but it didn’t change much. Therefore, the Cowboys‘ front office might make a big decision to be prepared for similar scenarios in the future.

Jones‘ eldest son Stephen, who is the executive vice president, CEO, and director of player personnel for the Cowboys, recently revealed that Dallas will be looking to select a quarterback in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

“You know, I think one of our goals is to get a young quarterback in the draft,” Jones said, via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t know where that’s going to be. That’s why we gave a [fourth-round pick] for Trey. It seems like all the quarterbacks, even guys we have in the fourth round, go in the first. They always go so much higher than what you think.”

How many draft picks do the Cowboys have in 2025?

Their poor performance in the 2024 NFL season saw the Cowboys secure the 12th overall pick in April’s Draft, where they’ll also have second (44th overall), third, fifth, and sixth round picks.

This year’s class of quarterbacks looks stacked, but chances are that, unless they use their first-rounder to get one of them, those names will be picked before the Cowboys have a chance to do so.

The Cowboys have already made a long-term commitment by handing Prescott a four-year, $240 million contract extension in 2024, making him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. But with the star signal-caller turning 32 in July, having a rookie in the QB room to learn from him could be useful in the future.

Stephen Jones admits Cooper Rush, Trey Lance may not return to Cowboys

Both Rush and Lance will be free agents this offseason, and Stephen Jones’ recent comments suggest that their future might be outside Dallas. Jones claims that, while the Cowboys still like Rush, the 31-year-old may not return as they “don’t know what he’s going to cost” this summer.

“Unfortunately, we do have to go cheap,” explained Jones, who also doesn’t expect Lance to be back in 2025 as the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is “probably going to be looking for something different.”

Cooper Rush and Trey Lance’s history in Dallas

Rush, 31, has pretty much spent his entire career in Dallas, a team he joined as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent a few months with the New York Giants in 2020 but ended up returning to the Cowboys after Prescott suffered an injury.

Lance, 24, entered the NFL with high expectations around him as the Niners traded up to select him third-overall in 2021. He sat behind Jimmy Garoppolo in his rookie year, but when the 49ers promoted him in his second year, an early injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. Brock Purdy did well during his absence, and he never got another chance.

The Cowboys got him for a fourth-round pick in 2023, and he had to settle with being the third-string QB behind Prescott and Rush. Not even Dak’s injury in 2024 let Lance get significant playing time.

Prescott’s absence until the following year was a blow that ended the Cowboys‘ slim playoff hopes. The quarterback suffered a partially torn hamstring and was out for the season after undergoing surgery. Jones decided not to sign him and went with what he had.

Rush and Lance, faced with this scenario, battled for the position left vacant by Prescott. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ season had seen a slight uptick in wins that allowed the illusion of postseason qualification to quickly fade. However, with his ownership perspective, Jones chose one of the two backup quarterbacks with the future of the franchise in mind.

Who did Jones choose between Rush and Lance?

Jones spoke as he does every Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan and said the Cowboys are not interested in having backup quarterback Trey Lance as their starter. “I’m not. I still think Cooper Rush gives us the best chance. Wins are important to us. This is a young team,” the Dallas franchise owner said.

Comparing Rush and Lance

It is currently unfair to compare the activity of both quarterbacks, as Rush has been the starter since Prescott‘s injury. The 31-year-old veteran has started five games and completed 128 passes for seven touchdowns this season.

Lance, on the other hand, is seven years younger than Rush. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has played in just two games this season, completing four passes and one incompletion. “I’m ready for the opportunity,” Lance said days ago about the possibility of competing for the quarterback job.

What is the Cowboys’ next game?

Dallas will play its next game of the 2024 NFL season when it takes on the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. It will be a matchup of two teams with negative records, both looking to rebuild for next year.

The Cowboys’ 2024 NFL season has taken a turn for the worse. Despite entering the year as contenders, the team has failed to meet expectations, and their playoff hopes appear to be slipping away.

In Week 9, the Cowboys suffered a major blow when Dak Prescott sustained a season-ending injury. Since then, Cooper Rush has taken over as the starting quarterback, though he has struggled to provide the consistency Dallas needs to stay competitive.

Mike McCarthy reveals his biggest regret from Texans loss

Mike McCarthy’s job security is increasingly uncertain this season. While his overall regular-season record with the Cowboys is decent, he has failed to elevate the team to the dominant level expected by the organization and fans.

Dallas has one of the most star-studded rosters in the league. However, McCarthy has not been able to maximize their potential, leading to growing frustration within the team and its fan base.

The loss of Dak Prescott has only intensified the pressure. While Cooper Rush remains the starter, Trey Lance, a younger and more promising option, has not yet been given an opportunity to showcase his abilities.

During Monday’s defeat to the Texans, Cooper Rush played the entire game while Trey Lance stayed on the bench. Reflecting on the loss, Mike McCarthy admitted that his biggest regret was not giving Lance a chance to get on the field and find his rhythm.

“I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I just didn’t do, was put Trey in there. I could’ve gotten him a series. That’s one thing that I would second-guess myself on,” McCarthy said. “I didn’t want to get into putting him in for a play or two, because he’s more than a gadget player in my opinion. We had him prepared to take a series, and frankly there at the end I should’ve gave him that series, and I regret not doing that.”

Will the Cowboys move on from Trey Lance?

Dak Prescott’s injury led many to believe Trey Lance would have an opportunity to step in as the starter. However, Mike McCarthy’s preference for Cooper Rush has raised questions about Lance’s future with the team.

Reports suggest that Lance will have limited chances to prove his value this season. If he fails to capitalize on his opportunities, it’s likely the Cowboys will look to move on from him ahead of the 2025 season.

The 2024 NFL season has been challenging for the Cowboys. Despite high expectations, they’ve fallen short after nine games and the playoffs seem like a distant dream.

In Week 9, Prescott’s hamstring injury sidelined him, and reports suggest he’ll miss at least four games. This forced the Cowboys to find a temporary replacement.

Cowboys choose between Trey Lance and Cooper Rush to replace Dak Prescott

Losing Prescott dealt a major blow to the Cowboys. Although his season hadn’t been remarkable, he remains their best quarterback and a central figure in their offense.

Unfortunately, Prescott’s injury appears more serious than initially thought. This left the Cowboys with two options: Cooper Rush or Trey Lance.

For Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys started Cooper Rush, who completed only 13 of 23 passes for 45 yards with no touchdowns.

Following this, Mike McCarthy gave Trey Lance a shot, but he went just 4 of 6 for 21 yards and one interception. Based on these performances, McCarthy has now named his Week 11 starter.

McCarthy confirmed that Cooper Rush will start against the Houston Texans on Monday’s game. Despite Rush’s low numbers, McCarthy prefers him over Lance for now.

Will the Cowboys release Trey Lance?

This decision casts doubt on Trey Lance’s future with the Cowboys. The former 49ers quarterback hasn’t met expectations, and his 2025 status with the team remains uncertain.

As of now, it seems likely that Lance may not return for the 2025 season. He was initially brought in as Prescott’s potential replacement, but when the opportunity arose, he was unable to surpass Cooper Rush as the backup.

While team owner Jerry Jones doesn’t look worried about Prescott’s situation, it remains unclear whether Dak will be under center for America’s Team in 2025. But in the event he leaves, the team may already have the right successor.

Speaking to the media during OTAs, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy looked impressed by backup quarterback Trey Lance, who was traded from San Francisco to Dallas last year.

“Young quarterback comes into a new system. So you got the learning curve, but now starting to get the timing with the routes,” McCarthy said, via Gridiron Heroics. “[Trey Lance is] close to being a master of the system. He has a really high understanding. He’s communicating very well. He looks more and more comfortable. He just needs reps. I know I say that every time I talk about him. He just needs as many reps as he can.”

That’s quite the praise for the former first-round pick. While Lance couldn’t live up to the expectations in the Bay area, his age (24) and Prescott’s contract situation make him a candidate to take the reins in 2025. McCarthy’s recent comments make that scenario look even more realistic.

McCarthy still a huge fan of Prescott

McCarthy, however, by no means pretends to move on from Prescott anytime soon. In fact, he likes what he’s seeing from the quarterback ahead of his fifth season at the helm of the Cowboys.

“I think Dak is having his best offseason program that we’ve had,” McCarthy said. “This atmosphere that we’ve practiced in with the quarterback and receivers has really hit the mark. I’ve been very impressed with the quality of work. . . . With the quarterback, when the connection is there in the perimeter realm – and that’s been the majority of our physical activity — the connection is better. The receivers are playing with more urgency, more reps. The timing is better. The real test will be when we get to training camp.”

Prescott will continue to make headlines as his contract situation remains unchanged, with the Cowboys wondering what’s the best route to take in order to make a long-awaited Super Bowl appearance.