Things keep getting worse for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. A season that began with Super Bowl aspirations has been defined instead by one crushing injury after another. First came the loss of Rashawn Slater to a torn patellar tendon in August. Then, promising rookie Omarion Hampton landed on the Injured Reserve. Even Mekhi Becton’s availability has been shaky. And now, the Chargers have lost their prized first-round pick, Joe Alt, for the season.
The team announced Monday that Alt will undergo season-ending surgery on the high ankle injury he suffered in the Chargers’ 27–20 win over the Titans. “Feel bad for Joe,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I know it’s going to be OK. It’s not going to be life-altering. Feel bad for him.”
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Alt was carted off in the second quarter after his leg was rolled up in a violent collision involving two Titans defenders. It was déjà vu for the rookie, who had already missed three games earlier this season with a similar ankle injury. His absence now leaves the Chargers without either of their starting tackles.
Jamaree Salyer replaced Alt at left tackle on Sunday, while Bobby Hart—who had already been filling in for Trey Pipkins—exited early with a groin injury. Harbaugh said he doesn’t expect Hart to go on injured reserve, but the Chargers are running out of options. “We’ll rotate Salyer, Pipkins, and Austin Deculus,” he noted, though that plan underscores just how thin the group has become.
“Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons,” Harbaugh famously said when the Chargers drafted Alt fifth overall last year. Right now, Los Angeles is running out of weapons.
A Desperate Situation Nears the Trade Deadline
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With the NFL trade deadline looming on Tuesday, general manager Joe Hortiz has little choice but to act. The Chargers sit just one game out of first place in the AFC West, but their protection unit has collapsed under the weight of injuries. Five different players have taken snaps at left tackle, four at right tackle, and three at right guard through nine weeks — a staggering number for a team built around Justin Herbert’s arm.
That reality means the Chargers almost must trade for an offensive lineman — even if it costs them valuable draft capital. The problem? Reliable linemen rarely come cheap.
The most logical call might be to the Washington Commanders, who according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, are open to trading Andrew Wylie or Nick Allegretti. Both are seasoned veterans with Super Bowl experience from their time in Kansas City. Wylie has 92 career starts and can play both guard and tackle, while Allegretti has proven capable depth inside.
Proposed Trade:
Chargers receive: OT Andrew Wylie or OT Nick Allegretti
Commanders receive: 2026 fifth-round pick
Either player would immediately stabilize the Chargers’ line, giving Herbert a chance to stay upright as Los Angeles fights to stay in the playoff picture.
Familiar Names, Familiar Connections
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Hortiz could also look to his Baltimore roots for reinforcements. Kevin Zeitler, now with the Titans, played under Hortiz’s watch with the Ravens from 2021 to 2023 and remains a strong interior presence despite being 35. Another possible target, Ben Cleveland, has fallen down the depth chart in Baltimore but has the size and power Harbaugh covets.
Elsewhere, the New York Giants could be convinced to part with former first-rounder Evan Neal, who has struggled to find footing since being drafted in 2022. A low-cost flyer on Neal could give the Chargers a developmental option who still possesses elite physical tools.
Proposed Trade:
Chargers receive: OG Evan Neal
Giants receive: 2026 seventh-round pick
No Time Left to Waste
The Chargers’ offensive line crisis has reached a breaking point. With Slater, Alt, and Becton all sidelined, and depth pieces falling by the week, standing pat is not an option. Whether it’s Wylie, Zeitler, or Neal, Los Angeles must find a solution — fast.
Hortiz was criticized last year for staying quiet at the deadline. This time, in a season hanging by threads of tape and adrenaline, drastic times call for drastic measures.
The Chargers can’t afford to let this window close because of injuries. Their path forward is clear: make a deal, protect Justin Herbert, and keep the season alive.
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