Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance isn't exactly the definition of a player fans would want to watch in prime time.
But, to kick off the 2025 on-field calendar, he will be.
The now-Los Angeles Chargers backup signal-caller is slated to open up the league's preseason against the Detroit Lions in the annual Hall of Fame game from Canton, Ohio, part of the celebrations leading up to this year's induction class into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
News of the pending exhibition start was shared by The 33rd Team NFL insider Ari Meirov:
The #Chargers will start Trey Lance at QB on Thursday night vs. the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame game. pic.twitter.com/wLxmxmuz7C
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 29, 2025
Granted, it's not exactly a top honor for Lance, the Niners' high-profile bust of a pick from the 2021 NFL Draft who started a mere four games and lasted little more than two seasons in the Bay Area before an unceremonious trade to the Dallas Cowboys, where he similarly flamed out. Hall of Fame games, while a welcomed relief to fans who've missed football since February, are typically sloppy and played almost solely by backups and roster hopefuls.
Sure, there's hope for Lance that he can finally get the attention he needs and deserves from another ex-San Francisco figure, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. According to reports, Lance has been getting the bulk of second-team reps during camp, which leads to speculation Thursday's exhibition opener is only the start of some significant playing time this preseason.
But, it's not as if Harbaugh will unleash a broad array of offensive plays to fully feature Lance's talents.
Still, working underneath Harbaugh and behind L.A.'s franchise quarterback, Justin Herbert, might be the best remaining situation for Lance to resurrect what has otherwise been a disappointing career to date.
For those who want to watch Lance featured on national television, you can tune in by watching the Hall of Fame game, which airs on Thursday, July 31 at 8 p.m. ET. NBC will broadcast coverage, while NFL+ subscribers can live stream the game.