Slater’s Devastating Season-Ending Injury Creates Serious Doubt

The Severity of Slater’s Injury

Slater’s injury was non-contact. With no warning signs beforehand, it was a complete shock when he went down mid-practice. He was carted off the field, surrounded by teammates offering support the entire time. Slater threw his helmet in frustration, clearly aware that something serious had happened.

A torn patellar tendon is, simply put, a devastating injury. It’s rare in the NFL, but occurs most often among offensive linemen. While the return-to-play rate is relatively high at around 70%, the rate at which these players return to their previous ability is much, much lower.

Even though Slater is only 26 and doesn’t have a dramatic history of injury, the likelihood that he returns to his high-end form is low. Players with the same injury often return the next season, but rarely match their previous production. Sadly, we may never see Rashawn Slater play at his former level again.

For such a dependable, consistent player, it’s devastating to see his season end before it began. Since being drafted in 2021, Slater has dealt with just one major injury —missing most of the 2022 season with a ruptured bicep tendon. He battled high-ankle sprains throughout 2023, yet still started all 17 games.

Complicated Offseason

Slater’s offseason has been anything but ordinary. He held out of training camp starting July 18 and didn’t return until signing his contract on July 27. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, a title he fully earned. He ranked 10th among tackles in run block win rate during the 2024 regular season.

His counterpart, Joe Alt, ranked fourth among tackles in pass block win rate. This made for a bookend duo that many considered to be the best in the NFL. Adding Super Bowl champion Mekhi Becton seemed to elevate the line from two stars among three question marks to a potential top unit, before reality set in.

The plan was always to lean on Becton, Alt, and Slater while figuring out what to do with Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson. Now, those questions have only multiplied. Johnson started at center in the Hall of Fame Game on August 1, but that experiment was quickly scrapped. Head coach Jim Harbaugh later announced a projected starting line of Alt, Johnson, Bozeman, Becton, and Slater.

With Slater out, Alt will move back to his college position at left tackle, while Trey Pipkins steps in at right tackle. Pipkins has started 42 games at OT over his career. Harbaugh insists the “best five” remain the same, just with Alt taking Slater’s spot and Pipkins sliding into Alt’s role. Originally slated as a backup, Pipkins is now starting out of sheer necessity.

This is far from an ideal starting lineup. Per PFF, Bozeman ranks 36th out of 64 centers in the NFL — yet he’s projected to start. He ranks near the bottom in most metrics except blocking grade.

Johnson fares slightly better among guards, but has still underwhelmed. He flashed potential in the Hall of Fame Game, but not enough to warrant a permanent move to center.

Looking ahead to 2025, this line faces a brutal slate of opponents. It’s hard to imagine them providing adequate protection against pass-rush powerhouses like the Steelers, Eagles, and Texans. We already saw this nearly identical line collapse against the Texans in the playoffs. Even with new weapons beyond Ladd McConkey, it’s unrealistic to expect Alt and Becton alone to carry a line that must protect its star QB from excessive sacks.

Harbaugh may be content with this group, and confident they can move on without Slater, but it’s clear that while every other position has improved, the offensive line now faces a bleak future without one of its stars.

New Faces: Potential?

In July, the Chargers signed offensive tackle Ryan Nelson from the UFL. Nelson logged significant snaps in the Hall of Fame Game and held his own. It may be worth giving him a preseason start to see if shuffling the line sparks improvement. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Nelson might bring physical tools Pipkins can’t match.

On Aug. 9, they added veteran tackle David Sharpe. Sharpe has suited up for nearly as many teams (five) as games he’s started (six). While it’s hard to dismiss any addition, given the desperate need for depth, entering an eighth season with those numbers doesn’t inspire much confidence.

The Chargers face a grueling stretch ahead. One player’s absence may not sink the season outright, but offensive linemen are weapons every bit as vital as wide receivers. Jim Harbaugh even said so himself. Luckily, Alt is versatile, already looking like an All-Pro, and Harbaugh has a somewhat magical ability to solve problems within any organization he’s in.

It now comes down to whether Bozeman, Johnson, and Pipkins can step up, and if Slater can return to prove why he earned that record-setting contract.