{"id":273887,"date":"2025-08-09T08:56:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T08:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/273887\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T08:56:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T08:56:10","slug":"jim-harbaugh-losing-rashawn-slater-for-the-season-like-a-gut-punch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/273887\/","title":{"rendered":"Jim Harbaugh: Losing Rashawn Slater for the season ‘like a gut punch’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A day after losing the cornerstone of their offensive line, the mood around the Chargers<\/a>‘ training facility remained the same \u2014 somber.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a gut punch into the solar plexus \u2014 takes the wind out of you,\u201d coach Jim Harbaugh<\/a> said. \u201cDon\u2019t really have the words or am able to think about anything else. Man, just feel bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It was the first day of moving forward with a new-look offensive line after learning Rashawn Slater ruptured his patellar tendon<\/a> \u2014 an injury that will require him to undergo season-ending surgery.<\/p>\n

Even with the need to move forward, Slater remained on everyone\u2019s mind. Harbaugh said he was confident Slater would overcome the setback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also know how he\u2019ll attack the rehab and train, and he\u2019ll be back,” Harbaugh said. “Not this season, but I know he\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more: Chargers star Rashawn Slater injured in practice, will miss entire 2025 season<\/a><\/p>\n

For Joe Alt<\/a> \u2014 the other half of one of the best offensive tackle duos in the NFL \u2014 it was difficult to accept that the man who mentored him during his rookie season last year would not be playing in 2025.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m praying for him,\u201d Alt said. \u201cI know what he\u2019s going to do. I know he\u2019s going to recover and he\u2019s going to attack it and be back better than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mindset in the offensive line room has shifted with Slater out. They are determined to stay focused on honoring him through their play.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re brothers,\u201d Alt said. \u201cYes, one fell down, and the goal is to play as well as five is one, and the only way we can do that is by moving forward and playing the best we can, to do what he would want us to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trey Pipkins III<\/a>, who has moved into a potential starting role at right tackle because of the injury, said he spoke with Slater, whose \u201cspirits are as good as they can be,\u201d adding Slater was \u201cjoking around a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Read more: AI can’t be stopped! Ammonia inhalants, a.k.a. smelling salts, are not banned by the NFL after all<\/a><\/p>\n

Slater\u2019s absence presents an opportunity for Pipkins, who is in the final year of his contract and returning to a position he played for his first five seasons before a brief shift to guard last season.<\/p>\n

While Harbaugh said nothing is set, Pipkins \u2014 who started at right tackle in both 2022 and 2023 \u2014 will get the first look at the spot. Jamaree Salyer<\/a>, who Harbaugh praised for a strong showing throughout camp, also could challenge for the starting role.<\/p>\n

For now, the offensive line consists of Alt moving to left tackle, Zion Johnson<\/a> at left guard, Bradley Bozeman at center, Mekhi Becton<\/a> at right guard and Pipkins at right tackle, according to Harbaugh.<\/p>\n

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With the loss of depth on the offensive line, the team plans to explore the free-agent market and expects to bring in players for workouts Saturday before the preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Read more: He’s back: Wide receiver Keenan Allen agrees to deal with Chargers<\/a><\/p>\n

Najee Harris’ status remains unclear<\/p>\n

A potential return timeline for running back Najee Harris<\/a>, who has been on the non-football injury\/illness list since a July 4 fireworks incident<\/a>, remains unclear.<\/p>\n

Harris began walking laps at practice on Aug. 2, wearing a helmet with a visor and cleats, but has yet to progress further in his recovery. Harbaugh remained vague about when Harris might practice or play for the Chargers.<\/p>\n

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When asked if Harris would be ready for the Chargers\u2019 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil \u2014 which Harris\u2019 agent, Doug Hendrickson, said he expects \u2014 Harbaugh replied, \u201cThere is a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like with most player injury updates, Harbaugh deferred to his lack of medical expertise when asked if the injury was still just \u201csuperficial,\u201d as first reported, or something more serious.<\/p>\n

Two days ago, Harris posted a photo on Snapchat showing his left eye completely shut, captioned: \u201cWE AT IT.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t comment on it because I am not a doctor,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cI’m not Mr. Harris’ agent, either. I’m talking about what I know, and can he open his eye? Yeah. I’ve looked into his eye.”<\/p>\n

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.<\/a><\/p>\n

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A day after losing the cornerstone of their offensive line, the mood around the Chargers‘ training facility remained…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":273888,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2064],"tags":[10731,241,7,464,1012,5661,1159,110,1014,262,2444,2443,4388,4125,55,6,1482,1526,29251,8401,8402],"class_list":{"0":"post-273887","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-chargers","8":"tag-bradley-bozeman","9":"tag-chargers","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-jamaree-salyer","12":"tag-jim-harbaugh","13":"tag-joe-alt","14":"tag-justin-herbert","15":"tag-kansas-city-chiefs","16":"tag-los-angeles","17":"tag-los-angeles-chargers","18":"tag-losangeles","19":"tag-losangeleschargers","20":"tag-mekhi-becton","21":"tag-najee-harris","22":"tag-new-orleans-saints","23":"tag-nfl","24":"tag-offensive-line","25":"tag-rashawn-slater","26":"tag-ronald-martinez","27":"tag-trey-pipkins","28":"tag-zion-johnson"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114997978105970418","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/273888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}