Rashawn Slater
Getty
The Chargers signed David Sharpe after placing Rashawn Slater on injured reserve
The 2025 campaign hasn’t even officially begun yet, but the Los Angeles Chargers have already been dealt a crushing injury. Earlier this week, Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in practice on Thursday, ending his season before it even began.
With Slater out for the year, the Chargers have a massive hole at left tackle that needs to be filled. The coaching staff’s plan for replacing Slater is still a work in progress, but in the wake of his unfortunate injury, the team immediately went out on the free agent market and signed veteran tackle David Sharpe to come in and provide some depth on their offensive line.
Chargers Sign David Sharpe After Placing Rashawn Slater on Injured Reserve
The Chargers selected Slater with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he immediately became one of the top left tackles in the league. As a rookie, Slater started all 16 games he played in, earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team and Pro Bowl honors in addition to a fourth-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2022, Slater suffered a ruptured biceps tendon, ending his season after just three games. He returned to play all 17 games in 2023, but he wasn’t at the same level he was at as a rookie. That changed in 2024, as Slater looked fully like himself, playing in 15 games and earning the second Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Just weeks after signing a four-year, $114 million contract extension, Slater’s season has come to an end after he suffered the second major injury of his career. In an effort to fill the void, the Chargers signed Sharpe, a former fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft who has played in 45 games over the course of his career.
“Chargers officially placed LT Rashawn Slater on season-ending injured reserve and, in a corresponding move, signed OT David Sharpe, who has played 45 NFL games for the Raiders, Houston, Washington, Baltimore and Carolina,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
How Will Chargers Replace Rashawn Slater?
Chargers OT Rashawn Slater
GettyRashawn Slater, the highest-paid tackle in NFL history, was carted off the field at Chargers practice.
With Slater out, Los Angeles’ coaching staff is going to have to get creative when it comes to replacing him on their o-line. Right now, it looks like they will shift Joe Alt over the left tackle after he spent his rookie season at right tackle, with Trey Pipkens III kicking back out to right tackle after spending last season at right guard.
It’s not an ideal situation, but the Chargers actually have the depth to stay afloat in the wake of this injury to Slater. This showed just how quickly injuries can pop up and disrupt even the best laid plans, so Los Angeles will work on developing Sharpe behind the scenes in the event he makes the final 53-man roster. Slater, meanwhile, will begin an arduous rehab process as he turns his attention to the 2026 campaign.