Heading into the offseason, all signs pointed to Taylor Heinicke holding down the QB2 role behind Justin Herbert . It made sense—Heinicke’s a 32-year-old veteran who already backed up Herbert in 2024. To back it up, he also signed a one-year, $6.2 million contract extension in March this year. Even with Trey Lance coming in, the script seemed clear: Heinicke would be the safety net, keeping Lance’s uneven trajectory in check.

But as the offseason unfolds, the storyline might be shifting. And Jim Harbaugh is expected to make a change in the depth chart. CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr recently analyzed 14 NFL veterans in danger of being cut ahead of the regular season. And as it turns out, Heinicke seems to be the odd man out from the Chargers . The crystal? His uninspiring preseason p

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