Trey Lance played his shortest preseason game of the year in his return to Levi's Stadium, as the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback was replaced by Taylor Heinicke with 3:30 left in the first quarter against his former team,

Trey Lance's return to the Bay Area led to three straight punts for the Los Angeles Chargers. They lost 30-23 to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in their final exhibition game.

The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2025 NFL regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Trey Lance will start at quarterback during the team's preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, via NFL.com.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed the Chargers ' plans at quarterback in the preseason finale against the 49ers this Saturday.

Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance had an impressive preseason. Was it enough for a quarterback needy team to reach out for a trade?

Ahead of the Chargers' preseason finale this weekend, there are a few players with a lot on the line with the official 53-man roster coming soon.

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke completes a thirteen-yard pass to wide receiver JaQuae Jackson. Highlights from the Preseason Week 2 matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams during the 2025 NFL season. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett gets intercepted by defensive lineman TeRah Edwards.

Part of that has been because of injuries. The four players competing — Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart and Benjamin St-Juste — have all missed practices at various points in camp. But part of that, too, has been an up-and-down performance.

Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) reacts after a first down during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

"Heinicke has been uninspiring this preseason and is 32 years old. If the Chargers keep just two quarterbacks, Lance gets the edge over Heinicke," Kerr concluded. While Lance has shined this preseason, Heinicke has completed just 7-of-16 passes for 64 yards and zero touchdowns.