Chargers LT Rashawn Slater done for the season with ruptured patellar tendon

The Chargers confirmed on Thursday that Rashawn Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon during practice and will undergo surgery, effectively sidelining him for the entire 2025 season. The standout offensive tackle was injured while blocking during a team drill, going down in obvious pain and eventually needing to be carted off the field.

Players and coaches surrounded Slater in a show of support before he was taken away, marking a tough blow for L.A.'s offensive line ahead of the new campaign. He'll now be placed on Injured Reserve as he begins the road to recovery.

Just a week and a half after Rashawn Slater inked a massive four-year, $113 million contract extension, with a whopping $92 million guaranteed, the Chargers are now forced to pivot. The All-Pro tackle, fresh off becoming the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history by average annual salary, is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon.

Slater, a 2021 first-round pick, quickly established himself as one of the elite tackles in the game, earning two Pro Bowl nods and a Second-Team All-Pro honor. But now, the focus shifts to how L.A. reshuffles the deck without their anchor on the edge.

Immediately after the injury, Joe Alt slid over to left tackle while Trey Pipkins III took over at right tackle. Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft, was a dominant force at Notre Dame and didn’t disappoint in his rookie campaign. His 94.3% pass-block win rate ranked fourth among all tackles in the regular season, according to ESPN. He even got a start at left tackle in Week 18 and has seen time there throughout OTAs and camp, making him a ready-made replacement.

As for Pipkins, he's no stranger to the role. With over 3,000 career snaps at tackle, he was slated to be the team’s swing tackle this year before being thrust back into the starting lineup.

Elsewhere, the Bolts' O-line seems mostly locked in: Zion Johnson at left guard, Bradley Bozeman holding down the center, and Mekhi Becton at right guard. Head coach Jim Harbaugh recently noted that he’s nearly finalized his starting five, and now, with Slater sidelined, that group just got its first major test.

There's no denying the Chargers will feel Rashawn Slater's absence this season, but if there's one thing Jim Harbaugh builds his teams around, it's grit and resilience.

With their season opener just 29 days away, against none other than the defending champion Chiefs in Brazil, the Bolts still have a solid window to reshape their offensive line and build chemistry across the front.

Harbaugh and his staff now face the challenge of fast-tracking cohesion, but with four full weeks plus a day before kickoff on September 5, there's every reason to believe they'll have this revamped unit locked in and ready for battle.