Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have been without star left tackle Joe Alt since he was carted off the field with a high-ankle sprain in the team’s Week 4 loss to the New York Giants.
Alt has missed each of the Chargers’ last two games — a 27-10 Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders and a 29-27 Week 6 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Alt was listed as a non-participant for Wednesday’s practice session. But on Thursday, the second-year offensive lineman was upgraded to limited participation, boding well for his possible return in Sunday’s Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Thursday marked Alt’s first practice participation in any capacity since his Week 4 injury.
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Alt joined the Chargers as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Starting 16 games in his debut season, the former Notre Dame standout finished seventh in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
The Chargers already had offensive line injury issues before Alt went down in Week 4. During a preseason workout in August, Pro-Bowl tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon. Fourth-year offensive guard Jamaree Slayer is also questionable to play on Sunday with a knee injury.
Herbert has already been sacked 17 times through the first six games of the season.
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Los Angeles began its season with three consecutive divisional victories. After back-to-back losses in Weeks 4-5, the team got things back on track with last Sunday’s closely-contested victory over the Dolphins.
The AFC West-leading Chargers and the AFC South-leading Colts will meet in a highly-anticipated clash on Sunday. Indianapolis’ only loss of the season so far came against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, the site of this weekend’s Week 7 matchup.
Sunday’s game will kickoff at 4:05 p.m. ET.