Chargers Dealt Troubling News After $30 Million Decision

Thomas Shea-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Chargers Dealt Troubling News After $30 Million Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Aug 18, 2026 2:39 PM ET

Jim Harbaugh has brought a level of stability to the Chargers that the franchise hadn’t seen in years, winning 22 regular-season games across his first two seasons while reaching the playoffs both times.

That progress has raised the bar for Year 3, especially with Los Angeles bringing in Mike McDaniel as its new offensive coordinator this offseason. The moves signal a team with real Super Bowl aspirations heading into the new season.

That backdrop made Tuesday’s joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers at The Bolt feel like a measuring-stick moment. The session began at 10 a.m. and was scheduled to run two hours, but it took a concerning turn when starting center Tyler Biadasz was carted off after appearing to injure his left leg.

Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz (63) at training campKirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

The injury occurred when a 49ers player was pushed into the lower half of Biadasz’s body. Trainers spent several minutes attending to him on the field before the cart arrived, and he needed assistance getting onto it, unable to put any weight on the leg.

Rookie Jake Slaughter took over at center in his place, working through reps with quarterback Justin Herbert for the remainder of practice.

Biadasz was one of the Chargers’ biggest offseason additions, signed to a three-year, $30 million contract that includes a $9 million signing bonus and $20 million guaranteed, averaging $10 million annually, per Spotrac.

For 2026, he was set to earn a $1.25 million base salary on top of his signing bonus, with a cap hit of $4.25 million and a dead cap figure of $15 million.

Los Angeles brought him in to solve a problem position after two seasons under Harbaugh, with Bradley Bozeman having manned center before his arrival.

That made Biadasz a central piece of the team’s plans heading into a season with real championship expectations, and losing him for any real length of time would be a significant blow to the momentum the Chargers have built.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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