The Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive line has taken another hit — and this one comes with a troubling amount of uncertainty.
Just a week ago, the team’s tackle situation collapsed when star left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon in practice, forcing rookie Joe Alt to move to the blindside and Trey Pipkins to step in at right tackle. That shift left the Chargers with three starters — Pipkins, Zion Johnson, and Bradley Bozeman — who struggled for much of last season.
Mekhi Becton, the marquee free-agent signing expected to stabilize the right guard spot, was supposed to help offset that drop-off. But he hasn’t practiced since July 28. On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper noted Becton was again absent from the field, working out in the weight room instead. That makes two full weeks without a practice rep.
Mekhi Becton Out For 2nd Week For Chargers, Expected Back For Opener, Nothing Concrete
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman tried to calm the waters, telling reporters, “Mekhi’s working through something. He’ll be fine. He’s getting a lot of great meeting time, walkthrough time.” He added that he expects Becton to be ready for the season opener — but then came the qualifier: “Not putting anything in concrete.”
That shift in tone — from “extremely minor” to no firm Week 1 commitment — is exactly the sort of thing that sets off alarm bells for fans. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have been guarded about injury details, and recent history has shown how a “minor” issue can quietly turn into a long-term setback.
Time is still on Los Angeles’ side. The regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil is just over three weeks away, giving Becton a chance to return and build chemistry with his new linemates. But if he can’t go, Jamaree Salyer would likely start at right guard — leaving Justin Herbert behind an offensive line with one proven star (Alt) and four below-average starters.
Becton’s injury history only adds to the anxiety. The former first-rounder played in just one game between 2021 and 2022 before bouncing back with a strong 16-game season in Philadelphia last year. The Chargers signed him hoping that was the start of a durable stretch.
For now, the hope is that Becton’s absence is simply a case of load management. But with the Slater injury already forcing major shuffling, the margin for error up front is razor thin — and “no concrete” timeline isn’t exactly the reassurance Chargers fans were looking for.
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