Joe Alt’s injury came later in the year, but its impact was just as significant. The rookie right tackle quickly proved why the Chargers invested premium draft capital in him. Alt looked comfortable early in the season, showing power at the point of attack and a maturity beyond his years in pass protection. Then the ankle injury struck midseason. While Alt battled through it at times, it was clear he wasn’t operating at full strength. His anchor wasn’t the same, and opposing defenses took advantage. With Slater already sidelined, losing Alt at less than 100 percent compounded an already fragile offensive line situation.
