Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are, on paper, one of the league’s top tackle duos. Unfortunately, the two didn’t play a snap together last season. Both former first-round pick, Slater missed the entire season while injuries limited Alt to just six games. In his absence, the Chargers had perhaps the worst offensive line in football, as every single starter on the offensive line was well below average. The Chargers revamped their interior offensive line, releasing free agent bust Mekhi Becton while replacing Bradley Bozeman with Tyler Biadasz. However, Los Angeles didn’t do much at tackle, and they’re effectively betting on Alt and Slater returning to the lineup and looking like their old selves.
Fortunately, this bet seems to be paying off. During OTAs, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater should be ready for the start of training camp. The two star tackles also participated in OTAs, and both players appear to be on track to be 100% for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater Receive Positive Injury Updates
Even though he’s entering his third season in the league, Notre Dame’s Joe Alt has already proven himself to be one of the game’s elite offensive tackles. Selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 6′-8″, 322-pound tackle immediately earned a starting job as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl. He was just as effective during his limited action last year, as he finished the season with a 79.0 PFF grade. If he had enough snaps to qualify, this would have made him the 16th-best tackle in football by this metric.
Rashawn Slater, meanwhile, has struggled with injuries but is unquestionably elite when on the field. A two-time Pro Bowler, his health will likely go a long way in determining the ultimate ceiling of the Los Angeles Chargers. Quarterback Justin Herbert is one of the best in the game, but nobody can succeed without proper blocking – especially in such a talented division.
Main Photo: Denny Simmons – Imagn Images
