SAN DIEGO — Not long after Coach Jim Harbaugh said the Chargers had “really cemented” four of their five starters on their offensive line, one of those starters, left tackle Rashawn Slater, walked away from a drill on Tuesday at the University of San Diego and headed for the injury tent.
Slater wasn’t there long, but he watched the rest of the Chargers’ first padded practice of training camp from the sideline. Harbaugh spoke before practice, so there was no update on Slater’s condition or whether he would be sound enough to return to practice on Wednesday.
The health of the offensive line is one of the biggest storylines of training camp in the wake of season-ending injuries to Slater and right tackle Joe Alt last year, two players who proved to be irreplaceable and who were expected to be at full strength when camp opened on July 29.
With their Pro Bowl tackles back to 100%, the rest of the offensive line was expected to be made up of Tyler Biadasz at center and Cole Strange at right guard. The only position up for grabs is left guard, which Harbaugh said Tuesday might take “between nine and 12 practices” to settle.
Slater, Trey Pipkins III, Biadasz, Strange and Alt were the five-man group blocking in front of quarterback Justin Herbert to start 11-on-11 drills. Pipkins then shifted into Slater’s spot at left tackle and Kayode Awosika took Pipkins’ position for the remainder of practice.
“It’s the unfortunate part of the NFL,” Herbert said when asked about Slater’s absence. “It’s injuries and adversity and how you deal with it, and we know Rashawn is doing everything he can to be at his best, and sometimes unfortunate things happen. But we know he’s going to get back out there as quickly as he can. I’m sure he wanted to be back out there, and was trying to get back out there, and they probably limited him, and we’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
Herbert said he spoke to Slater for a moment, but didn’t share the specifics of their conversation.
“I don’t want to speak more,” Herbert said.
It was almost a year ago, Aug. 7, on the 16th day of the Chargers’ 2025 training camp that Slater suffered a torn left patella tendon and was lost to the team for the rest of the season. Alt replaced him until he sustained a right ankle injury in a victory over the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2 that would sideline him for the remainder of the season.
The Chargers went on to their second consecutive 11-win season in Harbaugh’s second season as coach, but their jury-rigged offensive line couldn’t protect Herbert adequately when it mattered most and they were bounced from an AFC wild-card game for the second consecutive time.
Herbert was sacked 54 times last season, the most in his six-year career.
O-LINE BATTLE
The Chargers have tried five different linemen so far at left guard, including Awosika and Pipkins. Harbaugh spoke highly of them, but indicated the battle for the starting position would be ongoing and it would include Trevor Penning, rookie Jake Slaughter and Branson Taylor.
“There’s a lot of really good candidates,” Harbaugh said. “I’d say Kayode right now, he’s been probably the most consistent guy there, and you could probably say in the lead. Trey Pipkins, as I said before, I think he’s one of our top five guys. We really think he could play and be a really good starting left guard. What’s best for the team could determine that.”
Penning injured his ankle during spring practices and Harbaugh said he “got a little behind” in the competition, but “he’s coming on strong” during camp. Harbaugh said Slaughter, the Chargers’ second-round draft pick in April, is “ahead of schedule.” Harbaugh also said it was “exciting” that Taylor was “asserting himself” as a possible starter.
EXTRA POINTS
Harbaugh said beforehand that he expected outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu to participate in team drills for the first time in camp. Tuipulotu only worked out on the sidelines with an athletic trainer after joining his teammates during individual drills. Harbaugh declined to discuss Tuipulotu’s contract status. … Fans seated beyond the end zone at Torero Stadium unfurled the 619 area code banner that used to be on display when the Chargers called Qualcomn Stadium their home before moving to Los Angeles before the 2017 season. … The Chargers wore stickers on their helmets to honor former San Diego linebacker and media personality Billy Ray Smith, who died last week. A moment of silence also was held before practice started.