How Will the Chargers Lead the AFC West Without Their Left Tackle?
Early in their Week Four matchup with the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers' nightmare began. During the second offensive possession, second-year player left tackle Joe Alt, the son of John Alt, replaced the injured veteran Rashawn Slater, who tore his patellar tendon in training camp. As Justin Herbert fumbled in the pocket, Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux collided with Alt's right leg, causing the injury. Alt had to be carried to the locker room after limping off the field on his own and never came back. The Chargers were without their top two tackles for the duration of the game when he was subsequently observed with a walking boot on his ankle during halftime, indicating the seriousness of the injury.
Alt's injury dealt a devastating blow to the Bolts' already overworked line. The former Notre Dame offensive lineman was forced to go from right to left tackle, where he had performed well early in the season, after Slater’s injury. With just one sack and a few tackles allowed in his first three starts, Alt was ranked as the fourth-best tackle in the NFL by Pro Football Focus before the injury. Through the first three games, his presence had helped Herbert stay reasonably clean, leading to a 66.7% passing percentage and six touchdowns with just one interception. However, once Alt was taken down, Herbert had to deal with a vicious Giants pass rush. As the pressure grew, he was hit seven times and had to make two interceptions. As the Chargers' left tackle remains injured, head coach Jim Harbaugh had declared on Wednesday, October 1st, that Alt will be unable to play in Week Five against the Washington Commanders.
Austin Deculus filled in at left tackle while Alt was out, but he had trouble settling in. Deculus, who had been signed only a few weeks earlier, had not played much for the Chargers and had already played fewer than 40 live repetitions with the starting lineup. By sending delayed blitzes that confounded the line's protection calls, the Giants revealed this lack of synergy. Deculus gave in to several pressures, especially from Abdul Carter, a rookie edge rusher. His lack of preparation and inexperience caused holes in an already weak front, which the Giants took advantage of to win their first match of the year.
The Chargers have a difficult road ahead of them in their division. The Chiefs, with their great DT Chris Jones, will come next, followed by the Raiders and their destructive pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who has already recorded four sacks this season. Over the next five weeks, the Chargers will also face some of the NFL's most formidable pass defenses, as they rank among the top 10 in terms of expected points added against the pass. This season might be made or broken by safeguarding Herbert in the absence of Alt and Slater. Yet, Alt remains high-spirited by stating, "It's part of the game. We sign up to play the game… injuries are part of it. My mindset now is it happened, and now let’s get back as fast as we can.” This serves as a positive reminder that this is what the game of football is all about, from Alt with a refreshing perspective.
Alt’s injury from Week Four has pushed the Chargers into a total crisis mode, necessitating swift adjustments to maintain their season's momentum. With Alt sidelined, the reconfigured left side—now including Austin Deculus—lacks experience and unity, putting Justin Herbert under increased pressure and hits like never before. As head coach, Jim Harbaugh considers his few active choices; there’s increasing pressure to form and plan in-house adjustments and maximize the potential of backups like Deculus while continuously modifying protection strategies. Should Alt’s recovery extend further, the team’s capacity to adapt and enhance their performance without his reliable and trusting foundation on the roster could ultimately determine whether the Chargers maintain their competitiveness in the AFC West.
