Who Is Justin Herbert's Backup? Meet Chargers QB Easton Stick

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a fracture to his right index finger, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Herbert, who will be placed on injured reserve, hurt the finger in Los Angeles' 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday while taking a hit from defensive end Zach Allen in the second quarter. And now the 25-year-old can be added to the growing list of starting quarterbacks to go down with season-ending injuries in 2023. Backup Easton Stick relieved Herbert and will start under center for the Chargers moving forward—starting with a primetime matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.

Here's what football fans should know about the Stick before his first NFL start.

Easton Stick College Stats, Record

The Chargers selected Stick in the fifth round (166th overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, making him the eighth quarterback taken that year.

Quarterbacks who play their college football careers at the FCS level don't typically see the draft recognition of their FBS peers, but Stick's time at North Dakota State caught the eyes of at least one NFL team. And for good reason.

The Omaha, Nebraska, product went 49-3 as a college starter and won four FCS national championships with the Bison—including two as QB1. Stick finished his college career as North Dakota State's all-time leader in passing yards (8,693) and passing touchdowns (88). The 2018 FCS first-team All-American also holds the school records for the most total touchdowns (129) and the Missouri Valley Football Conference record for rushing yards (2,523) and rushing touchdowns (41) by a quarterback.

Stick Lacking Much On-Field NFL Experience

Before Herbert's injury, Stick had lacked much of an opportunity to replicate his college success on the field in the NFL. Herbert had started 62 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak by a QB, according to ESPN.

But that streak will end when Stick goes under center on Thursday night.

The fifth-year QB has played in 13 preseason games for the Chargers since 2019. In those contests, he has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,175 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 199 yards and five scores on the ground. Stick had only played two NFL regular-season snaps and thrown a single pass, which he completed for four yards last year, before relieving Herbert on Sunday.

Herbert completed a pass to tight end Donald Parham Jr. on the play during which he suffered his injury. After the whistle, the Pro Bowler got up and looked at his right hand. The fourth-year pro stayed in the game for the rest of the series before heading to the locker room. Then Stick came in.

The signal-caller for one of college football's recent dynasties completed 13 of his 24 passes for 179 yards—and no touchdowns or picks—against Denver. He led L.A. on its only scoring drive of the day in the second half. On that drive, Stick connected with rookie Quentin Johnston for a 57-yard gain, then running back Austin Ekeler scored four plays later.

"I thought that he did some good things that we can definitely build off of," Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said on Monday. "I told him this last night, when he went into the game, our team believed that he would move the team... They believe in Easton. They know what he can do. I did think, in the second half, he did some things that we definitely need to build off of for this Thursday night."

Chargers Teammates Have Faith in Backup QB

Losing Herbert is yet another demoralizing punch in the 5-8 Chargers season. But Stick's teammates in the Los Angeles locker room have faith in the backup QB.

"I have all the confidence in the world," safety Derwin James, Jr. said about Stick. "He gives us a great look every week. When he got in the game, you [saw] the throws he was able to make and some of the plays he was able to make. I got all the confidence in him and we're going to be behind him and have his back as a defense."

Added defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day: "He's honestly a great, great quarterback, and I believe he actually proved that with what the situation he was put in. A lot of quarterbacks put in that situation, they probably wouldn't give you points. He got warmed up and he drove down the field, two strikes, touchdown versus a defense that was playing very well. A defense that was sending a lot of zero blitzes, doing a lot of different things to try to get the quarterback off track, a lot of things to mess up the offense."

The Chargers aren't technically eliminated from postseason contention yet. And now Stick will be under center to try and complete a Hail Mary of a turnaround — starting against the Raiders (5-8) on Thursday night in Vegas. With Stick climbing up the depth chart, rookie Max Duggan is expected to serve as backup moving forward.

Stick's NFL Contract

Stick spent the first four seasons of his professional career on an entry-level four-year, $2.8 million contract with the Chargers. The 28-year-old re-upped with the Bolts this offseason to the tune of a one-year, $1.8 million deal, according to Spotrac. That contract includes a $152,000 signing bonus, $1.152 million guaranteed, and a base salary of $1.65 million.

The signal-caller's performance over the Chargers' final four games could factor into how lucrative a contract he signs this offseason as a free agent.