The Los Angeles Chargers suffered what could be a devastating blow during training camp on Thursday when left tackle Rashawn Slater was carted off the practice field with what appears to be a leg injury.
Slater, one of the most important players on the roster, had just signed a four-year, $114 million contract extension. The team will wait for testing results to confirm the severity of the injury, but having to leave on a cart is generally never a good thing.
The next obvious question is, who is the next man up for the team?
If Slater is going to miss time into the regular season, the likely option for the Chargers will be to move last year's first-round pick, Joe Alt, over to the left side. Trey Pipkins III would then rotate back into the starting lineup, a move Chargers fans would likely not be thrilled about.
If Rashawn’s injury is extensive, I assume the Chargers would put Joe Alt at left tackle and Trey Pipkins would be your starting RT where he is most capable. But obviously any long term absence from Slater would be absolutely brutal on multiple fronts. Hope he’s ok 🙏🏻🤞🏼
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) August 7, 2025
Trey Pipkins about to start at LT im gonna throw myself in front of a train https://t.co/4IqYVQmPFO
— Jason Dill (@TRICHERATOPS_) August 7, 2025
There could be a lot worse things.
How many teams can lose their franchise left tackle and turn to a former third-round pick who has started in 56 games for the team? Pipkins is a serviceable option for the Chargers as they sort through this, but any significant injury to Slater greatly changes the effectiveness of the offensive line as a whole.
READ: Bringing back Keenan Allen allows Chargers to execute suggested roster move
Of course, many felt Pipkins would already be somewhere else now or would be soon, whether that be through a trade or by cutting him at the end of the preseason. According to Over the Cap, the Chargers could save $6.7 million against the salary cap by cutting Pipkins.
That would have been a risky move for the Chargers, considering Pipkins is easily the best option to use as the team's swing tackle off the bench, but that may all be a moot point now.
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