PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback puzzle remains unsolved, with no clue who’ll take the reins in Week 1. They’re dreaming of Aaron Rodgers headlining the show, but even they’re in the dark about whether that’ll pan out. And while they twiddle their thumbs, another potential piece just slipped away.
Trey Lance, once a shiny first-round gem, is bolting to the Los Angeles Chargers to play wingman for Justin Herbert this season. Drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021, Lance’s stint there fizzled after two years, shipping him off to the Dallas Cowboys for the past two seasons.
Now in L.A., he’ll slug it out with Tyler Heinicke for the backup gig, aiming to lock down the No. 2 spot behind Herbert in 2025.
For all the hype as a North Dakota State standout, Lance’s NFL story has been a letdown. Brock Purdy’s rise in San Francisco snatched his spotlight, and in Dallas, he languished as QB3 behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Even with Prescott sidelined most of this season, Lance managed just one start. In four years, he’s notched 12 games, five starts, a 2-3 record, 1,063 passing yards, five TDs, four picks, plus 276 rushing yards and three scores.
The Steelers, desperate for quarterback clarity, can’t catch a break. Rodgers is their golden ticket, but it’s a coin toss at best. If he passes, they’re back to square one—and Lance might’ve been a wild card worth drawing.
Pittsburgh’s QB situation is a mess. GM Omar Khan’s made it clear: if Rodgers doesn’t sign, they’ll chase another vet. Who’s left? That’s a gamble hinging on how many names vanish before Rodgers finally picks a lane.
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