Unfortunate blow could help former Notre Dame star unlock his massive upside with new opportunity potentially on the table
Former Notre Dame star has the talent to take advantage of an unfortunate circumstance.
The Los Angeles Chargers were dealt some difficult news on Thursday when it was announced that Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater will be lost for the entirety of the 2025 NFL season. Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon injury that will require. It’s an extremely tough blow for the Chargers, who signed Slater to a new four-year, $113 million extension this offseason.
With a hole now at left tackle, the Chargers need to find answers, and quickly, to protect Justin Herbert’s blindside for another potential playoff run. One option that could be on the table is shifting over starting right tackle Joe Alt, who is coming off of a very impressive rookie season in 2024. In fact, he might be the clearest option for head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff.
Prior to being selected with the fifth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Alt spent the better part of three seasons as the starting left tackle for Notre Dame. The 6-8, 321-pound blindside protector talked numerous times leading up to that draft about his comfort on the left side, and the difficulties moving to the right side could have. Despite those transitional difficulties, Alt made it look seamless last season. He has quickly become one of the rising stars at the right tackle position in the entire NFL.
Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer are the two top tackle options behind Alt and Slater, and would presumably fill in the open tackle spot. The question is which one they would be filling in for. We have seen Alt practicing some at left tackle this offseason, which could be a huge indicator for the preferred solution. It doesn’t hurt that Alt also looked really good while doing so.
While Alt’s future at right tackle is very bright, there is an argument to be made that left tackle could still be where his biggest upside is. His combination of size, length, foot quickness, and comfort in pass protection should be perfect to keep Herbert healthy and upright. It is hard to predict a seamless transition taking over for Slater, but there is a good chance that Alt softens that loss quite a bit. He has already made things look pretty easy with his maturation as a player on the professional level.
Having Alt should also bring some much needed comfort to a Chargers offense that is dealing with very difficult news. While neither Pipkins nor Salyer is a great starting option, it is much more palatable while playing right tackle compared to manning the blindside. Big No. 76 is most likely going to do exactly what he always does, his best for the team, and make it look easy along the way.
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