The Los Angeles Chargers are set to acquire quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick, The Athletic reported.

Heinicke will battle Easton Stick to become the backup to Chargers star QB Justin Herbert. He would have been the emergency third quarterback in Atlanta behind Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons at the start of free agency, and Atlanta selected Penix with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Heinicke, 31, was 1-3 as the starter in his first season with Atlanta in 2023, completing 54.4 percent of his passes for 890 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

He is 13-15-1 overall with 6,635 passing yards, 39 TDs and 28 picks in 38 games (29 starts) with the Houston Texans (2017), Carolina Panthers (2018), Washington (2020-22) and Atlanta.

Also Thursday, NFL Network reported that the Chargers are set to release veteran safety Tony Jefferson and re-sign him to the practice squad.

Jefferson, 32, last played in the NFL for the New York Giants in 2022 and has 492 tackles, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles in nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2013-16), Baltimore Ravens (2017-19, 2021) San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Giants.

–Field Level Media