Kris Rhim
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers Professional Bowl left deal with Rashawn Slater will miss the 2025 season with a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in observe Thursday, the workforce mentioned.
Slater will bear surgical procedure and be positioned on injured reserve.
A pissed off Slater left Thursday's observe on a medical cart. He had begun blocking exterior linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu throughout a workforce drill however started collapsing earlier than Tuipulotu rushed him and instantly grabbed his left leg. Slater was down with an athletic coach for a couple of minutes as security Derwin James Jr. and linebacker Denzel Perryman prayed. Finally, Slater, unable to place weight on the leg, was helped to his ft by trainers and teammates.
Tuipulotu mentioned after observe that he did not see what occurred to Slater, however was praying and wishing for the very best.
“That is simply one thing you do not wish to see,” Tuipulotu mentioned. “Not solely Rashawn, however any of our gamers.”
Many Chargers gamers approached and comforted Slater on the medical cart as he exited observe. Slater was noticeably distraught on the way in which into the ability, slamming his fist on the cart and throwing his helmet.
Simply 11 days in the past, Slater signed a four-year, $113 million contract extension, together with $92 million assured. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman by common annual pay in NFL historical past.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman predicate their offenses on dominant speeding assaults, and due to that, offensive linemen are maybe the workforce's most necessary gamers.
Coaches and front-office workers wish to boast that the Chargers had the league's finest deal with pairing with Slater and Joe Alt, the fifth choose in final 12 months's draft. Additionally they upgraded their line by signing guard Mekhi Becton in free company. Earlier this week, Harbaugh mentioned he was “bullish” on how proficient the group was.
The Chargers will doubtless transfer Alt to left deal with and Trey Pipkins to proper. Alt performed his total faculty profession at Notre Dame at left deal with and began the Chargers' closing regular-season recreation in 2024 on the place with Slater out with damage. Pipkins began at proper deal with within the 2022 and 2023 seasons and was final 12 months's beginning proper guard.
Slater's damage additionally is not the one one on the road. Becton hasn't practiced since July 28 with an undisclosed damage, though Roman has referred to as it “extraordinarily minor.”
Slater's damage dimmed what was speculated to be an thrilling day on the Chargers facility, The Bolt. Broad receiver Keenan Allen, who spent the primary 11 years of his NFL profession with the Chargers, agreed to a one-year take care of the Tuesday and returned to observe Thursday.
