Following the Chargers‘ 20-18 preseason finale loss to the Rams, head coach Jim Harbaugh offered a positive evaluation of quarterback DJ Uiagalelei’s performance.
“I thought he did some good things,” Harbaugh said. “Excited to look at the tape.”
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Uiagalelei delivered a performance that may have given him the upper hand for the backup spot to starter Justin Herbert. He entered the game for a late first-half drill and commanded the offense for the remainder of the second half. Uiagalelei showed solid composure, quick decision-making, and an ability to push the ball downfield
Stepping in with less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter, Uiagalelei instantly injected life into a stagnant offense. He completed back-to-back passes of 21 and 20 yards to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt, which kicker Cameron Dicker missed.
Later in the game, Uiagalelei threw a precise pass to tight end Evan Svoboda to successfully secure the two-point conversion and map the score to 20-18. With 3:24 remaining on the clock and the Chargers backed up at their own 1-yard line, Uiagalelei led a highly efficient drive into Rams territory. He found Liam Clifford for 13 yards and Gary Jennings for 24 yards to move past midfield.
His strong night came to an end during the final minute, however. Facing a first-and-five at the Rams’ 40-yard line, Uiagalelei was strip-sacked from behind by Rams outside linebacker Darryl Peterson. The resulting fumble was recovered by the Rams, effectively ending the Chargers’ comeback attempt.
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By contrast, Trey Lance struggled to find a rhythm during his snaps. While Lance flashed his trademark mobility with 22 rushing yards on four carries, he appeared rushed under pressure and failed to connect on his only two passing attempts.
The Chargers’ front office and coaching staff face a tight deadline to reduce their roster to 53 players. With Uiagalelei outperforming Lance in the finale, the tape review will determine if he has officially usurped the QB2 position.
However, there is a possibility that Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz will resort to an external option to solve their backup quarterback dilemma if they conclude that neither Uiagalelei nor Lance can reliably win an NFL game if Herbert went down.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers QB2 battle: What Jim Harbaugh said about DJ Uiagalelei
