Why preseason struggles should serve as wake-up call for Chargers' Jim Harbaugh

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Every NFL team is one quarterback injury away from a dramatic change to the trajectory of its season. Some teams are equipped with quarterback depth to keep its season afloat – at least for a few games – while its starting QB is on the mend.

The Los Angeles Chargers are not one of those teams.

Inept quarterback play has rendered the Chargers touchdown-less in two preseason games to start the Jim Harbaugh era.

"We not gonna lighten up, we’re gonna tighten up," Harbaugh said after a bad performance from backup quarterback Easton Stick during the Chargers' 13-9 exhibition loss to the crosstown rival Los Angeles Rams. "I would like to see another week of improvement from Easton (Stick) that I saw this week. I’m excited to see it. Another good week of practice. Tighten it up."

Stick had just 31 passing yards and an interception in 13 pass attempts during the Chargers' preseason opener. The Chargers’ current No. 2 QB followed that performance with a fumble on the 1-yard line, plus an interception near the red zone and multiple errant throws Saturday against the Rams.

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"We just got to get out of our own way a little bit. Obviously, it starts with me being just cleaner," Stick admitted. "In this league the margins are so small. You can’t drop a snap at the 1-yard line. You can’t have tipped balls (and) you can’t have penalties. All that stuff, it adds up."

Stick has sparingly played since he was drafted by the Chargers in 2019. He started in four games to end last year after Justin Herbert went down with a season-ending broken index finger. Stick went 0-4 in those starts. He’s been ushered into the forefront again, albeit in exhibitions, with Herbert sidelined in practices and the preseason due to a plantar fascia injury.

Stick has underwhelmed during both opportunities. He’s even been outplayed by quarterback Luis Perez, whom the Chargers signed less than two weeks ago.

"It’s gonna come down to points per possession. That’s the major stat," Harbaugh said after the Chargers scored a combined 12 points in two preseason contests. "You get it all the way down to the 1 and you fumble the snap or a turnover in the red zone. Those are the kinds of things you can’t do. We have to control those controllables. … If you’re the quarterback you can’t throw interceptions in the red zone or fumble snaps. He knows that. Expect that to be front of mind at all times with the quarterback."

The Chargers’ lackluster quarterback play behind Herbert has illuminated the team’s need for a serviceable option at backup quarterback.

"Not good enough," Perez said. "We’ve just got to continue to build and get better."

Harbaugh declined the idea of possibly signing his former quarterback Colin Kaepernick who hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season. But the irony is a rusty Kaepernick could be the second-best quarterback on the Chargers’ current roster.

The positive news for Harbaugh and the Chargers is that Herbert is on pace for his targeted return before the start of the regular season. Herbert is out of his walking boot and was throwing passes along the sideline during the Chargers’ preseason game versus the Rams.

"We have one of the best starting quarterbacks in the world," Harbaugh of Herbert.

Statistics back up Harbaugh’s claim that Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the world. But Harbaugh’s first season as the Chargers' head coach will go down the toilet if Herbert misses multiple games because of an injury. Unless the Chargers get viable insurance behind their franchise quarterback.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.