Chargers move on from QB DJ Uiagalelei after backup competition, with Trey Lance emerging

The Los Angeles Chargers have waived quarterback DJ Uiagalelei after Trey Lance earned the team’s backup quarterback spot, according to a report shared by Tom Pelissero and relayed by Pro Football Rumors on Monday.

Waivers are the next procedural step for Uiagalelei, who Los Angeles is reportedly hoping to bring back if he clears and a spot opens on the practice squad. In other words, the Chargers are not necessarily ending the relationship, but they are accepting that other teams could claim him before that option becomes available.

Lance’s path to the role, as described in the report, came from beating Uiagalelei in the competition that played out through the late preseason phase. For a veteran-backed plan, the backup job matters because it determines who can run the offense if the starter misses time, and it sets the standard for practice tempo and game-week preparation.

Uiagalelei, a quarterback who has already been evaluated by multiple organizations, now faces the most consequential part of the waiver process: he must clear waivers for the Chargers’ reported practice-squad plan to be practical. If another team claims him, he would become part of a new quarterback depth chart and practice ecosystem, potentially with different coaching priorities.

The timing is also notable in how it reflects preseason roster trimming. The Chargers are trying to lock in reliable depth at a position where continuity is difficult and where the reps taken early in preseason can matter for timing and protections, particularly with run-pass combinations and play-action reads.

While the report frames Lance as the backup winner, it is still a reminder that depth-chart decisions at quarterback often evolve. Even after a waiver, teams can adjust their approach if a claimed player changes the market, if an additional receiver or offensive lineman moves priorities, or if preseason workloads alter how coaches value the quickest learning curve behind the starter.

For now, the most direct thing to watch is whether Uiagalelei clears waivers and returns to the practice squad, or whether he lands elsewhere. Equally important is whether Lance’s early-season role solidifies as the Chargers head toward their regular-season rotation, since the backup quarterback’s weekly preparation is one of the clearest indicators of how a team expects to protect its offensive rhythm.