It has been a rough year to line up at left tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers.
After losing two-time Pro Bowl starter Rashawn Slater to a season-ending patellar tendon tear in August, his replacement, Joe Alt, is set to undergo right ankle surgery that will put an end to his 2025 campaign, the team announced Monday.
“Feel bad for Joe,” Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I know it’s going to be OK. It’s not going to be life-altering. Feel bad for him.”
Alt suffered the injury in the first half of the Chargers’ 27-20 win at Tennessee on Sunday when he got tangled up with Titans defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. Los Angeles announced it as an ankle injury at the time.
The fifth overall draft selection by the Chargers in 2024, Alt earned All-Rookie Team honors as a right tackle in his first season. He shifted to the blind side of quarterback Justin Herbert to replace Slater to start the season.
Alt initially suffered a high right ankle sprain in Week 4 in a game vs. the New York Giants. He exited that contest in the first quarter and the Chargers lost to the Giants, 21-18.
The Notre Dame product missed the next three contests and returned in Week 8, when Herbert threw for three scores in a 37-10 rout of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chargers’ offense has suffered a spate of injuries this fall. In addition to losing two outstanding tackles, guard Mekhi Becton (knee) missed the game at Tennessee, reserve tackle Bobby Hart left the contest with a knee injury and running backs Najee Harris (Achilles) and Omarion Hampton (ankle) are out long-term.
“I think like anything in sports, it’s adversity,” said Harbaugh. “You just do the best you can and you get better. Never give up. Those three key elements. Maybe a lesser team, lesser man wouldn’t find a way to do that, but that’s what we do.”
Los Angeles (6-3) hosts Pittsburgh (5-3) on Sunday night.
