The name of the game for the Los Angeles Chargers last season was injuries. They suffered through a plethora of them, and it seemed like things would never go their way. Ultimately, that was the case with how their season ended in 2022.
It was not pretty, and LA has now moved on from that. 2023 is a new year, and they will get back many of their star players, including Pro Bowl offensive lineman Rashawn Slater. Slater didn't waste any time making a name for himself in his rookie season, establishing himself as one of the best young up-and-coming offensive linemen. He was ready to take his game to the next level before only playing three games in 2022 after a season-ending bicep injury.
The Chargers missed him dearly, as it affected how LA ran their offesne. Slater plays one of the most important positions in football, the left tackle spot, and he is responsible for protecting their franchise QB Justi Herbert. His play is crucial for how LA wants to run their offesne. Some may even take it a step further and call him the most important player outside of Herbert.
One NFL columnist took it there and said Slater's impact could be a significant one.
Fortunately, Slater is back now and is responsible for protecting the richest man in football. Justin Herbert is a great young quarterback, but he’ll need all the help he can get to take down the Kansas City Chiefs. If Slater stays healthy, he could be the difference between a division title and a Wild Card appearance.
That is a bold take, but you could argue it is right. LA still managed to win 10 games in an injury-riddled 2022 season; now imagine if they were healthy. They probably would've beat the Chiefs for the AFC West crown.
The offensive line and Slater will be crucial to how this team will run their offense. As we saw on Saturday, the run game will be in full effect, along with receivers going down the field for explosive plays.
That all falls on Justin and the line to get the job done. It's been too long since the Chargers last won their division, and although it won't be easy if LA can stay healthy, they most certainly can get the job done.
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