EL SEGUNDO — The Chargers placed Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater on injured reserve Friday because of a sprained right ankle suffered during their loss this past Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks. He underwent surgery Thursday, the team announced and is set to begin rehabilitation work immediately.
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Slater was sidelined for all of the 2025 season after sustaining a knee injury during training camp. His absence was felt throughout last season and was one reason quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times, a career high. Rookie Logan Taylor replaced Slater after he was hurt Sunday.
The earliest Slater could return to play would be Week 10, when the Chargers play the Ravens in Baltimore on Nov. 16 for their lone “Monday Night Football” appearance. It’s not expected to be a season-ending injury, but his recovery time is likely to be month-to-month rather than from week-to-week.
Taylor, a sixth-round draft pick from Boston College, was one of four rookies on the Chargers’ offensive line to end Sunday’s game after Slater, Pro Bowl right tackle Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Trevor Penning (concussion) were injured in the second half of the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to Seattle.
Jake Slaughter, a rookie who won the starting center job after Pro Bowl selection Tyler Biadasz suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp, replaced Penning on Sunday. Jacob Spomer, an undrafted free agent, assumed Slaughter’s spot. Travis Burke, a fourth rookie, replaced Alt.
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Taylor made his NFL debut as a center after playing on special teams earlier in the season. Spomer played for the first time after Slaughter shifted to left guard. It’s expected that all four rookies will join veteran right guard Cole Strange when the Chargers host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Adding depth to the offensive line was an offseason priority for Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz after Alt joined Slater with a season-ending injury last season. Alt injured his ankle in Week 9 and was lost for the remainder of the season. The Chargers managed to win 11 games despite the absence of their standout tackles.
Hortiz signed Biadasz to a three-year, $30-millon contract after the Washington Commanders cut him for salary cap reasons. He also signed Strange, who had been with the Miami Dolphins, to a two-season, $13-million deal. Four of the Chargers’ eight draft picks were offensive line, led by Slaughter, who was a second-round selection from the University of Florida.
Slaughter was locked in a training camp battle with four other players for the starting left guard spot, but then assumed the starting center job after Biadasz was hurt during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers in August.
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