Los Angeles Chargers T Rashawn Slater Suffers Season-Ending Injury

Rashawn Slater’s Injury: A Crushing Blow for the Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers’ 2025 season took a massive hit before Week 1 with the news that Slater, their All-Pro left tackle, will miss the entire season after suffering a patella injury in practice. It’s a devastating loss for a team whose offensive line was supposed to be its biggest strength under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Slater wasn’t just an elite pass protector—he was the anchor of both the run game and Justin Herbert’s blindside protection. In 2024, he allowed only three sacks on over 500 dropbacks, a testament to his dominance. Without him, the Chargers face a major downgrade in offensive stability, which will ripple across their fantasy outlook.

Fantasy Impact on Chargers Players

• Herbert (QB)
  
  Herbert’s efficiency and deep passing could take a hit without his blindside secured. While he remains a mid-range QB1 based on volume and skill, expect more pressure, potential sacks, and hurried throws—especially early in the season.

• Chargers Running Backs
  
  Jim Harbaugh’s offense is built around a strong running game, but losing Slater weakens the outside zone and power schemes that open big lanes. This could lower yards-per-carry averages for the entire backfield, impacting both Omarion Hampton (rookie RB) and any complementary backs.

• Wide Receivers
  
  With less time to throw, Herbert may be forced into quicker reads, potentially increasing short and intermediate targets for possession receivers but hurting big-play threats.

Next Man Up: Joe Alt’s Role

Rookie tackle Joe Alt—a standout from Notre Dame—will likely shift to left tackle to protect Herbert’s blindside. While Alt is talented and experienced, replacing a top-five NFL left tackle as a rookie is a monumental challenge. Expect growing pains, especially against elite AFC pass rushers.

Betting Market Reaction

Sportsbooks have already begun adjusting Chargers markets:

• Win Total: Dropped from 9.5 to 8.5 at several books.

• Herbert Passing Yards O/U: Still near 4,400.5, but the over is riskier with protection concerns.

• Hampton Rushing Yards O/U: Sitting around 875.5—lean under unless L.A. proves it can maintain rushing efficiency without Slater.

Betting Lean: The under on the Chargers’ win total has appeal given their brutal AFC schedule and loss of a foundational piece on offense.

Bottom Line

The Chargers were expected to field one of the NFL’s most balanced offenses in 2025, but losing Rashawn Slater changes everything. Fantasy managers should:

• Downgrade Herbert slightly in redraft rankings.

• Be cautious with rookie RB projections.

• Avoid overvaluing deep-threat WRs until the offensive line proves it can hold up.

In betting terms, this injury is worth at least half a win on the season total and could swing key games if Herbert faces heavy pressure late in close matchups. For both fantasy and futures markets, the fallout from Slater’s loss will be felt all year.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.