Chargers lose Rashawn Slater for season with patellar rupture

Star Los Angeles Chargers left deal with Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon in observe Thursday, the staff stated.

Slater will bear surgical procedure and will likely be positioned on injured reserve.

The Professional Bowl deal with had began blocking exterior linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu throughout a staff drill Thursday, however he 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.

It is a large loss for the Chargers forward of Week 1. Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman predicate their offenses on dominant speeding assaults, and due to that, offensive linemen are maybe the staff’s most necessary gamers.

Slater is without doubt one of the greatest at his job within the league.

Simply 11 days in the past, he signed a four-year $114 million contract extension, together with $92 million assured. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman by common annual pay in a contract in NFL historical past.

With Slater out, the Chargers will doubtless transfer Joe Alt, the fifth decide in final yr’s draft, to left deal with, the place he largely performed at Notre Dame. Trey Pipkins would transfer to proper deal with, the place he began within the 2022 and 2023 seasons.