Chargers Get Boost As Offensive Lineman Returns To Practice After 3-Week Absence

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His return now arrives at a critical moment. The Chargers are just over two weeks away from their season opener in São Paulo, Brazil, against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the timing suggests Becton could be in line to start. That would provide a much-needed stabilizer up front after the crushing loss of Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater, who suffered a torn patellar tendon last week and will miss the entire season.

Slater’s absence has forced the Chargers to reconfigure their line. Rookie Joe Alt has shifted from right tackle to the left side, while Trey Pipkins III now slots in at right tackle. If Becton proves ready, he’ll reclaim his spot at right guard, where he was expected to be a cornerstone piece following his $20 million, two-year deal.

The 26-year-old Becton, a former first-round pick of the Jets, revitalized his career last season in Philadelphia after moving from tackle to guard. He started 16 games for the Eagles and helped pave the way during their run to a Super Bowl victory over Kansas City. That track record of durability and production made him one of the Chargers’ most important offseason acquisitions.

Without him, Los Angeles has been forced to turn to makeshift solutions. In last week’s preseason action, Justin Herbert was protected by a group of Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Jamaree Salyer, and Pipkins. While that lineup held up against the Rams, it exposed the team’s lack of continuity and experience across multiple spots. Johnson has bounced between center and guard, while Salyer’s return to the starting mix was not a development the coaching staff envisioned back in the spring.

Getting Becton back in the fold restores some balance. More importantly, it gives Herbert a more secure pocket as he heads into a pivotal season under Harbaugh. The Chargers’ offense is already adjusting to life without Slater, and starting the year down two linemen would have been a worst-case scenario.

For now, the question becomes how quickly Becton can ramp up to game speed after his extended absence. If his return holds, the Chargers’ projected starting five against the Chiefs will be Alt, Johnson, Bozeman, Becton, and Pipkins — a group that blends veteran experience with two recent high draft picks.

Los Angeles has endured its share of early turbulence, but Tuesday’s development offered at least one reassuring sign: its prized guard is back on the field, and the Bolts’ offensive line picture is starting to take shape again.