2. Update on left guard
The Chargers left guard battle has shifted a bit of late since Jake Slaughter is now the Chargers starting center.
Slaughter, a rookie second-round pick, filled that spot after Tyler Biadasz was put on Injured Reserve with a left ACL injury, a move that means he will miss the 2026 season.
Trey Pipkins III and Kayode Awosika continued a recent trend as both took reps at left guard on Monday.
McDaniel provided an update on how Biadasz’s injury affected the left guard battle.
“It altered it slightly. Jake was firmly in the running for that,” McDaniel said. “Luckily, we’ve had some strong play from a bunch of the guys, several of the vets you’ve seen all types of different number float in there.
“I think the No. 74 [Awosika] might stick, he’s been fortunately been coming along, but realistically the battle wasn’t complete and guys have to solidify their spots,” McDaniel said.
Pipkins also remains a candidate for the job, according to McDaniel.
“Very much so [in the mix],” McDaniel said. “I would just say Kayode has kind of taken the lead in terms of it’s almost his job to lose because of his growth in the last two weeks.
“Trey’s definitely still a factor in that and we’re working out all of those sorts of lineups to make sure we have the very best one for Week 1,” McDaniel added.
While those two players shared reps at left guard, Pipkins also spent time at left tackle on Monday.
Rashawn Slater went through individual drills before participating in two full team periods, an increased workload that the past two days.
Slaughter, Cole Strange and Joe Alt manned the rest of the line.
As for the line in front of Lance, it included Travis Burke at left tackle, Trevor Penning at left guard, Jacob Spomer at center, Alex Harkey at right guard and Logan Taylor at right tackle.
Uiagalelei’s group was made up of, from left to right, Laekin Vakalahi, Taylor, Josh Kaltenberger, Harkey and Burke.