Bolts From The Blue
A day after Rashawn Slater was lost for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon, head coach Jim Harbaugh has provided an update on how the offensive will adjust ahead of their second preseason exhibition on Sunday.
Per Harbaugh, second-year tackle Joe Alt will swap from the right to the left side to replace the injured Slater. Alt started 33 games at left tackle for Notre Dame during his collegiate career before switching sides as a rookie last season. Swing tackle Trey Pipkins will then step into the lineup at right tackle. So if you’re keeping track, from left to right, the Chargers new starting line will be Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, and Trey Pipkins.
According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Harbaugh also noted that the team will workout offensive linemen over the weekend in order to find a new swing tackle. Some notable free agent offensive tackles still on the market include former first-round pick Jedrick Wills and Germain Ifedi.
In adjacent news, Harbaugh told reporters that offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer will start this Sunday’s exhibition against the Saints at left tackle. In 2022, Salyer (who played left tackle in college) filled in for an injured Slater on the blindside for 14 games and did an admirable job at that. The Chargers also recently signed former UFL offensive tackle Ryan Nelson who finished the most recent spring season as one of the UFL’s highest-graded linemen by Pro Football Focus. After playing well in the Hall of Fame Game, don’t be surprised if Nelson puts up a good fight for that swing tackle role.
