Devastating Injury Update for Chargers Star Rashawn Slater Announced on Thursday

The Los Angeles Chargers had some high expectations going into the 2025 NFL season with a second campaign under head coach Jim Harbaugh, and another season with the ultra-talented Justin Herbert under center.

However, those expectations took a bit of a hit in training camp, with star left tackle Rashawn Slater going down with an apparent non-contact leg injury in training camp on Thursday afternoon, leading him to being taken off of the field in a cart after teammates consoled him.

The initial worry was that Slater tore something in his knee, and would likely miss the entire season. After a bit of testing has been done, the Chargers announced that this is indeed the case, and Slater will be sidelined for the upcoming year.

Details on Rashawn Slater's Knee Injury

According to the Chargers' social media account, Slater tore the patellar tendon in his left knee at practice on Thursday and will undergo surgery to repair the damage. The team also announced that he will miss the entire season and be placed on the injured reserve.

This is a major blow for the Chargers, who were counting on Slater to hold down the left side of their line and act as the blind-side protector for Herbert, who is going into his sixth year in the league.

In general, recovery from a torn patellar tendon takes anywhere from 6-12 months, but in some cases, it may take an athlete even longer to get back into playing condition.

The Ironic Timing of Rashawn Slater's Injury

There are two ways that you can look at the timing of Slater's injury. For the player, it is fortunate that just last month, he signed an extension with the team for four years, $114 million, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the year.

Of course, the Chargers are now probably frustrated that their $114 million player will be sidelined for the next year or so.

As far as where the Chargers go from here at the left tackle position, it is yet to be seen, but Ryan Nelson is listed as the backup on LA's first unofficial depth chart of the year. The Chargers also have both Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III at the right tackle spot, so there is a chance that one of those guys moves over to hold down the left side for the 2025 season while Slater recovers. Alt started 33 consecutive games for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the left tackle spot, so he can certainly fill in if the Chargers choose to go that way.