Star Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon during practice on Thursday, according to the team.
Slater will have surgery and will be put on injured reserve.
During a team drill on Thursday, the Pro Bowl tackle was in the process of blocking outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu when he suddenly fell before Tuipulotu reached him, immediately clutching his left leg. He remained on the ground for several minutes with the assistance of an athletic trainer while safety Derwin James Jr. and Denzel Perryman prayed nearby. Eventually, as he couldn’t bear weight on his leg, trainers and teammates assisted him in standing up.
This represents a significant setback for the Chargers just before Week 1. Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman build their offensive strategies around powerful running games, which means that offensive linemen are arguably the most crucial players on the team.
Slater ranks among the elite in his position across the league.
Just over a week ago, he finalized a four-year contract extension valued at $114 million, with $92 million of that guaranteed. This agreement established him as the offensive lineman with the highest average annual salary in NFL history.
With Slater sidelined, it’s likely that the Chargers will shift Joe Alt, the fifth overall selection from last year’s draft, to the left tackle position and move Trey Pipkins to right. Pipkins served as the starting right tackle during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
