Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater exited team drills Tuesday after a visit to the medical tent, sparking renewed concerns about offensive line protection and echoing the injury issues that significantly impacted the team's 2025 season.
Slater left the field with a trainer following the opening 11-on-11 period during the team's first padded practice of training camp. He later emerged and tested himself through several movements before observing individual drills with his helmet in hand. According to California Post reporter Vinny Bonsignore, Slater showed no visible discomfort and did not appear to be limping.
Despite the apparent lack of immediate distress, Slater remained sidelined for the remainder of the team drills. Trey Pipkins and Branson Taylor split reps at left tackle in his absence, with Justin Herbert playing behind them. This situation provided a glimpse into the team's depth behind their Pro Bowl left tackle.
The Chargers have not officially announced an injury for Slater or provided a specific reason for his departure from drills. His ability to move without apparent issue after leaving the tent offers some encouragement, but any uncertainty is amplified given that a torn patellar tendon sidelined Slater for the entirety of the 2025 season.
During the 2024 season, with Slater in the lineup, Chargers quarterbacks faced pressure on 34.2% of drop backs, and the team ranked ninth in expected points per passing play. In contrast, without him last season, the pressure rate escalated to 43.9%, and passing efficiency dropped to 24th, with an EPA per drop back of minus-0.076.
While the Chargers added interior linemen Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange in the offseason, the depth behind Slater on the blind side remains a question. Pipkins has experience, but Taylor is still developing. Neither is seen as a direct replacement for Slater's specific combination of balance, technique, and reliability.
Coach Jim Harbaugh has previously used a plane accelerating down a runway analogy for the tackles' return to full strength. Tuesday's interruption highlights the critical need for the offensive line to avoid any disruptions as the team prepares for the upcoming season.