Chargers to start their reclamation project at QB against the Lions

When the Detroit Lions face the Los Angeles Chargers in Thursday night's Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition game, Lions Pro Bowl QB Jared Goff will be a bystander. Lions coach Dan Campbell almost never plays any starters in any preseason games, and this "bonus" game is no exception.

The Chargers and head coach Jim Harbaugh appear to be taking the same path. And just as the Lions are anxious to get an extended look at young Hendon Hooker in a game situation, the Chargers will also be field testing their own young QB project.

Harbaugh announced that Trey Lance will be L.A.'s starting quarterback for Thursday's game in Canton, Ohio. The well-traveled Lance has gone from No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to fighting to be Justin Herbert's backup. The Chargers signed Lance as a reclamation project earlier this offseason following a disappointing trial run in Dallas in 2024.

Harbaugh laid out that Lance will play through the Chargers' first drive of the third quarter, and then UDFA D.J. Uiagalelei will finish the game.

Campbell hasn't given an exact schedule for the QB usage, but Hooker is expected to start and eventually give way to Kyle Allen. Both Hooker and Allen have looked better in training camp than recent Lions vintages behind Goff.

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Chargers to start reclamation project Trey Lance at QB against Lions