The Chargers were unable to overcome major injuries to starting offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt last year, but there is optimism the two will return at full strength next season. Slater and Alt are ahead of schedule in their recoveries, according to general manager Joe Hortiz (via Kris Rhim of ESPN).
The Chargers spent recent first-round picks on Slater (No. 13 in 2021) and Alt (No. 6, 2024). When healthy, the investments have been worth it. Slater was so impressive over his first four seasons that the Chargers awarded the left tackle a four-year, $114MM extension last July. He now ranks first among tackles in guaranteed money ($92MM), second in average annual salary ($28.5MM) and third in total value.
Not even two weeks after he signed the mega-extension, Slater succumbed to torn patellar tendon that cost him the entire season. It was the second serious injury for the 27-year-old Slater, who missed 14 games in 2022 as a result of a ruptured biceps tendon.
Right ankle problems dogged Alt last year and forced him to undergo season-ending surgery in November. Despite playing just six games, Alt earned his first Pro Bowl nod. That will increase the price of Alt’s fifth-year option in a couple of offseasons, which is not ideal for the Chargers, but they’ll worry about that down the line. For now, the hope is Alt will put together his first 17-game season in 2026. He almost accomplished that as a rookie, but a knee injury led to a single absence.
Even with Slater out for all of 2025 and Alt on the shelf for most of it, the Chargers reeled off a second straight 11-win season and went to the playoffs. But fill-in tackles Trey Pipkins, Bobby Hart, Jamaree Salyer and Austin Deculus were in over their heads subbing for a pair of stalwarts. Stuck behind a porous line, star quarterback Justin Herbert took a beating in a 54-sack regular season. That continued during a six-sack drubbing in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots in the wild-card round.
As long as Slater and Alt are healthy, Herbert should play behind a much better group of blockers in 2026. Hortiz has upgraded at center in replacing the retired Bradley Bozeman with free agent addition Tyler Biadasz. He may have improved at right guard, where the Chargers switched out Mekhi Becton for Cole Strange. Left guard is an obvious weakness in the wake of Zion Johnson‘s departure in free agency, but the Chargers are likely to address it early in the draft.