Chargers' Rashawn Slater Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury, To Undergo Surgery

Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater has suffered a season-ending ruptured patella tendon and will undergo surgery to repair the ailment, the team announced Thursday.

The news comes after Slater was carted off the field during Thursday's practice.

Slater was a Pro Bowler for the second time in 2024, and the four-year, $114 million extension he signed in July reinforced his status as one of the best at his position.

This is the second major injury of Slater's NFL career. A torn biceps limited him to three appearances in 2022.

Given he's tasked with protecting the blind side of quarterback Justin Herbert, losing Slater is a massive blow for Los Angeles' offense.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh could move second-year lineman Joe Alt from right tackle to the left side. But that would leave Alt adjusting to a different position with the regular season just a month away. He did at least start at left tackle in college at Notre Dame.

Still, Alt could perform at an elite level and the offensive line remains worse off because it would in effect be swapping Slater for Trey Pipkins III, the current backup at right tackle.

Speaking with NFL Network's Jamie Erdahl and Manti Te'o in July, Harbaugh argued Herbert has all the tools required to be a top-tier quarterback. The onus is on his supporting cast to deliver.

"This is the truth, Justin Herbert's biggest weakness is all of those that he's counting on on offense — coaches, offensive line, playmakers, receivers, running backs — to get up to his level," he said. "I wake up every day to try to get to his level."

The Chargers have yet to play a meaningful snap in 2025, yet there are already going to be questions over the state of their pass protection and what it means for their star signal-caller.