The injury bug is already biting the quarterback position, which means the free agent market will heat up in the coming days. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a plantar fascia injury in his right foot which is expected to sideline him for the next few weeks. The Carolina Panthers, meanwhile, lost Andy Dalton to a quad injury. While the ailment won’t end his season, head coach Dave Canales said the longtime veteran will be sidelined for “a couple of weeks.”
In theory, both quarterbacks will return for the start of the regular season. However, the relatively serious nature of both injuries heavily suggests that the two teams will take a look at the free agent quarterback market. Canales previously mentioned the desire to add another veteran arm before Dalton injured his quad, so you have to imagine the team will prioritize a signing. The Chargers, meanwhile, would probably like someone better than Max Duggan to challenge Easton Stick for the primary backup role.
Ryan Tannehill is easily the best name on the free agent quarterback market, but the Panthers and Chargers probably won’t be able to sign him. The former Titan might not be a top-15 quarterback anymore, but he is good enough to start in the right environment. Signing with the Chargers or Panthers means accepting a backup job, which Tannehill won’t want to do. So, with him out of the picture, the best option is probably veteran journeyman Trevor Siemian.
Panthers, Chargers Could Fight Over Top Free Agent Quarterback
A seventh-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Trevor Siemian began his career by beating out first-round pick Paxton Lynch as the heir apparent to Peyton Manning. While he never developed into a legitimate franchise quarterback, the Northwestern product had his moments with the Denver Broncos. During his three years with the club, the quarterback guided the team to a 13-11 record while completing 59.3% of his passes for 5,686 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. While he didn’t set the world on fire, there is a case to be made that he’s been the Broncos best quarterback of the post-Manning Era.
Since then, the veteran has bounced around the league in a variety of backup roles. The free agent spent the 2023 season with the New York Jets, appearing in five games while making three starts at quarterback. While on the field, Siemian went 2-1 while completing 56.2% of his passes for 724 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. Ultimately, there’s a reason he’s still available on August 2nd, but he’s probably the best option the Chargers and Panthers could find.
Who Will Sign Him?
Neither team will break the bank for the veteran, so the future of the free agent quarterback will probably come down to which team can offer a more enticing situation. The Panthers likely have the better supporting cast, as the Chargers have the worst collection of offensive weapons in the game. However, Los Angeles has the better offensive line and a more proven head coach in Jim Harbaugh.
The deciding factor could be Siemian’s path to the field. Even with Dalton sidelined, Siemian will never be anything more than a backup as long as first-overall pick Bryce Young is healthy. The Chargers, meanwhile, will need someone to start if Herbert’s injury is worse than initially believed, or if he re-aggravates it during the season. This alone could be enough for the free agent quarterback to sign in Los Angeles, as he should welcome the opportunity to battle with Easton Stick for a potential Week 1 starting job.
Main Photo: Kiyoshi Mio – USA Today Sports
