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Kris Rhim
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater will miss the 2025 season with a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in practice Thursday, the team said.
Slater will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve.
A frustrated Slater left Thursday’s practice on a medical cart. He had begun blocking outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu during a team drill but began collapsing before Tuipulotu rushed him and immediately grabbed his left leg. Slater was down with an athletic trainer for a few minutes as safety Derwin James Jr. and linebacker Denzel Perryman prayed. Eventually, Slater, unable to put weight on the leg, was helped to his feet by trainers and teammates.
Tuipulotu said after practice that he didn’t see what happened to Slater but was praying and wishing for the best.
“That’s just something you don’t want to see,” Tuipulotu said. “Not only Rashawn, but any of our players.”
Many Chargers players approached and comforted Slater on the medical cart as he exited practice. Slater was noticeably distraught on the way into the facility, slamming his fist on the cart and throwing his helmet.
Just 11 days ago, Slater signed a four-year, $113 million contract extension, including $92 million guaranteed. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman by average annual pay in NFL history.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman predicate their offenses on dominant rushing attacks, and because of that, offensive linemen are perhaps the team’s most important players.
Coaches and front office staff like to boast that the Chargers had the league’s best tackle pairing with Slater and Joe Alt, the fifth pick in last year’s draft. They also upgraded their line by signing guard Mekhi Becton in free agency. Earlier this week, Harbaugh said he was “bullish” on how talented the group was.
The Chargers will likely move Alt to left tackle and Trey Pipkins to right. Alt played his entire college career at Notre Dame at left tackle and started the Chargers’ final regular-season game in 2024 at the position with Slater out with injury. Pipkins started at right tackle in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and was last year’s starting right guard.
Slater’s injury also isn’t the only one on the line. Becton hasn’t practiced since July 28 with an undisclosed injury, although Roman has called it “extremely minor.”
Slater’s injury dimmed what was supposed to be an exciting day at the Chargers facility, The Bolt. Wide receiver Keenan Allen, who spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Chargers, agreed to a one-year deal with the Chargers on Tuesday and returned to practice Thursday.