Bitten by injuries in many recent seasons, the Chargers have run into tremendous trouble along their offensive line in this one. Playing the full season without left tackle Rashawn Slater, the Bolts will now be without his replacement the rest of the way.
Being carted off with an ankle injury Sunday, Joe Alt is not returning this year. The Chargers announced the standout blocker is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right high ankle sprain — an injury that has given him trouble at multiple points during his second NFL campaign.
The Chargers quickly slid Alt to left tackle to replace Slater for this season. They had lost Slater to a torn patellar tendon during training camp, seeing that development unfold days after reaching an extension agreement. The Bolts had a prime option to fill in, as Alt had earned two All-American honors while playing left tackle at Notre Dame. But Alt’s season on **Justin Herbert**‘s blind side has been bumpy due to this injury.
More to come.