Chargers Injury Updates Ahead of Week 1

The Los Angeles Chargers continued to prepare for their 2026 NFL regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals by holding practice on Wednesday.

While inside linebacker Denzel Perryman is out with an undisclosed injury and offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz is out for the season with a knee injury, the injury-related news was relatively good for Los Angeles as they went through practice.

According to the team’s official injury report, the only players who missed practice on Wednesday were edge rusher Khalil Mack and defensive back Deane Leonard. Leonard has an abdominal ailment, while Mack was given a rest day.

Meanwhile, edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu and reserve running back Keaton Mitchell were limited in practice due to hip and hamstring ailments, respectively. Mitchell had recently missed six practices in a row.

Health will be a major factor

L.A.’s offensive line can’t seem to stay healthy long enough. Last season, starting right tackle Joe Alt was limited to six games with an ankle injury, while left tackle Rashawn Slater sat out the entire schedule with a torn patellar tendon.

With the team’s offensive line forced to improvise, quarterback Justin Herbert had a career-worst 2.5% interception rate. As a team, the Chargers were 20th in points scored and 18th in passing yards.

Herbert managed to play in 16 games (head coach Jim Harbaugh sat out his regulars in Week 18), but he suffered a fractured hand in Week 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders. While he didn’t miss any time as a result, he did have to undergo surgery prior to the team’s next game versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

Even if Alt and Slater play in every game this year, the offensive line remains a concern, and Biadasz’s injury is a major reason. He was signed to a three-year, $30 million deal during the offseason and was supposed to start at the center position. He was named to the Pro Bowl during the 2022 season, and for last season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave him grades of 71.3 for run-blocking, 67.1 for pass-blocking and 70.8 overall.

Instead, rookie Jake Slaughter will start at center. He did a good job of pass-blocking during the preseason, but his run-blocking left plenty to be desired, and in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s new offense, blocking to open up the running game will be a huge key.