Chargers lose Slater for 2025 with patellar tendon tear

Rashawn Slater’s season ends with a knee injury, testing the Chargers and their new contract amid recovery hurdles.

Slater faces long road after knee injury

Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon during a Chargers practice in El Segundo and will undergo surgery. He will be placed on injured reserve and miss the 2025 season. The 2021 No. 13 pick had just signed a $114 million extension with $56 million guaranteed, a deal that financially anchors his future even as the team adjusts to his absence. Joe Alt is expected to step in at left tackle as the Chargers navigate an offensive line shakeup. The franchise has faced injuries before, and leadership will be tested as they chart a path forward without a cornerstone blocker.

Medical experts say recovery can vary by position. Dr. Carlos Uquillas notes that linemen may rebound more predictably than speed players from a patellar tendon tear, while the recovery timeline typically runs 10 to 12 months. The Chargers point to a recent example from their own ranks, in which a similar injury sidelined a player for almost a full season but did not necessarily end a career. Cleveland’s Jack Conklin is cited as a hopeful reference point for a return in 2022 after a late 2021 tear. The challenge for 2026 is real, but not yet decided, and the team must market a plan around the blank space Slater’s absence creates.

This setback tests the franchise on multiple fronts. First, it tests the balance between star player leverage and team risk after a record contract that guarantees money up front. The Chargers benefited from Slater’s proven talent, but the timing of this injury raises questions about cap planning and long-term stability. Leadership under coach Jim Harbaugh will be watched closely as the organization presses for continuity while injuries compound a historically troubled injury ledger.

Second, the team must translate potential strength into production without its top lineman. Alt’s opportunity is immediate, and how the line communicates as a unit will shape the offense’s early returns. This situation also underscores a broader NFL theme: the league’s growing willingness to pay for elite talent even as durability remains uncertain. If Slater returns in 2026, the path will hinge on rehabilitation quality, medical staff support, and the program’s ability to protect a quarterback and open lanes under new constraints.

Highlights

The road back will test patience and planning as much as it tests his knee.