The Los Angeles Chargers have suffered a significant blow with the loss of All-Pro left tackle Rashawn Slater, who will miss the entire 2025 season due to a ruptured patellar tendon. The team announced on Thursday that Slater, 26, will undergo surgery to repair the torn tendon and has been placed on injured reserve.
Slater was seen visibly distressed after an injury during practice, slamming his fist on a medical cart and tossing his helmet. His condition is serious enough that he could not stand on the affected leg, prompting teammates and trainers to assist him in getting back to the team’s complex.
The news comes just two weeks after Slater signed a record-breaking contract extension valued at $113 million, which included $92 million in guarantees. The deal made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman in average annual salary.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had expressed optimism about the Chargers’ offense heading into the 2025 season, but now faces a major reshuffle due to Slater’s injury. Guard Mekhi Becton has been sidelined since July with an unspecified injury, and Joe Alt could potentially move to left tackle as the team prepares for his absence.
Last season, with Slater on the field, the Chargers offense committed just eight turnovers, a franchise-record low. The team will now look to navigate this challenging period without their star left tackle.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/sports/chargers-star-rashawn-slaters-season-ending-injury-deals-major-blow-offensive-line