Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a devastating injury to his patellar tendon. How much time will Slater miss this season?
Rashawn Slater Injury Update
Rashawn Slater sustained a torn patellar tendon in today’s practice and will undergo surgery to repair the injury.
He will miss the 2025 season and be placed on Injured Reserve.
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 7, 2025
Justin Herbert will be without his most important lineman this season.
The Chargers announced on Thursday that Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon during practice and will undergo surgery to repair the injury. Unfortunately, Slater will be placed on injured reserve and miss the 2025 season.
During a team drill, Slater set up to block linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu. However, Slater collapsed while setting up for pass protection and grabbed his left leg.
According to reports, Slater did not put any weight on his leg and needed help from teammates and trainers to leave the field.
Slater is not only the Chargers’ best offensive lineman, but he has also become one of the five best left tackles in the NFL. The Chargers selected Slater out of Northwestern with the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Slater made an immediate impact as a rookie, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors and a spot on the Pro Bowl team. In 2022, Slater only played three games before suffering a season-ending biceps injury.
Slater has started 32 of 34 regular-season games over the past two seasons.
Last month, Slater signed a four-year $114 million contract extension, with $92 million guaranteed. Slater’s average annual salary of $28.5 million is the highest in NFL history for an offensive lineman.
Now, the Chargers must find a replacement for the most important position on the offensive line.
The Importance Of Rashawn Slater In The Chargers’ Offense
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: The #Chargers got the devastating news they feared all afternoon. LT Rashawn Slater is lost for the season with a torn patella tendon. pic.twitter.com/jQz0oMKa7d
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 7, 2025
Losing Slater is a disastrous blow for the Chargers. Slater is the anchor of an offense that improved significantly in the first year with Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
Harbaugh’s teams are known for being physical in the trenches, establishing the ground game, and being tough at all positions.
In 2023, the Chargers ran the ball 40.5% of the time, the sixth-least amount in the NFL. Under Harbaugh last season, the Chargers ran the ball 47.6% of the time, the ninth-highest total in the NFL (per FFtoday).
The Chargers now have a major hole at left tackle and must fill it before Week 1 against the Chiefs in Brazil.
Joe Alt, the team’s 2024 first-round pick, started 16 games at right tackle last season. Alt was one of the best left tackles in the country while attending Notre Dame. Harbaugh could elect to take his future Pro Bowl right tackle and move him to left tackle.
The backup offensive tackles listed on the Chargers’ depth chart include Trey Pipkins III, Ryan Nelson, and Corey Stewart.
Expect the Chargers to sign another tackle for added depth.
