The Los Angeles Chargers may be without both starting tackles for a stretch. Coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed on Monday, October 5, that left tackle Rashawn Slater has a high ankle sprain from Sunday’s 30–23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and said Slater is a more likely candidate for injured reserve than right tackle Joe Alt.
A move to injured reserve would cost Slater at least four games. Slater was hurt with roughly eight minutes left in the fourth quarter in Seattle, when a defender rolled into the back of his leg. Alt is dealing with a neck injury, and Harbaugh said the team is still evaluating how serious it is.
A line full of rookies
Rookie Logan Taylor moved to left tackle after Slater left, while Travis Burke handled 49 snaps at right tackle in Alt’s place. Fellow rookies Jacob Spomer and Jake Slaughter also shifted positions during the game. If Slater and Alt both miss time, Justin Herbert will play behind a line with very little experience together.
The injuries are not limited to the offensive line. Harbaugh called safety Derwin James week-to-week with a hamstring injury that kept him out on Sunday, but said James is not an injured reserve candidate. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey played only 24 snaps before the same foot injury from the previous week ended his day.
An 0–4 start
The loss in Seattle left the Chargers 0–4. They return home to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 11, at 4:05 p.m. EDT, a division game that can either stop the slide or push Los Angeles further behind in the AFC West. The Broncos–Chargers Game Center will show confirmed inactives and live scoring.
The Chargers have not yet placed Slater on injured reserve or announced a timeline for his return, and Alt’s status for Week 5 remains open. Any corresponding signing at tackle will appear on the transactions tracker; follow the Chargers team page and the NFL injury report for updates.
No published comments yet. Start the conversation.