Tag: Chargers Rashawn Slater

Chargers designate OT Rashawn Slater to return from injured reserve

The Chargers could be getting one of their most key players back.

The Chargers have officially designated left tackle Rashawn Slater to return from injured reserve.

Slater will not play Saturday against the Jaguars, Brandon Staley said. However, Staley added that he will be on the practice field this week.

This opens the 21-day practice window before being activated to the 53-man roster.

“He’s progressing well, and we’re excited to get him back,” Slater said.

Slater has been out since Week 3 after rupturing his biceps. His injury was initially thought of as a season-ending blow, but the stars appear aligned for a return to the field if Los Angeles advances to the divisional round.

Having Slater back would be pivotal, as L.A. will be relying on Justin Herbert heavily in the playoffs, and having his blindside protected is imperative. Additionally, Slater is a key component in the run game.

How Chargers can replace Rashawn Slater for remainder of 2022 season

The Chargers have a few options for the next man up.

The Chargers will be without star left tackle Rashawn Slater for the rest of the season after he suffered a ruptured biceps injury in the loss to the Jaguars.

Still very early in the season, Los Angeles will have to figure out a plan to have Justin Herbert’s blindside protected.

They can stick with what they have in Storm Norton as the starting left tackle, but yesterday’s performance exemplified that he is not ready for that responsibility as he allowed eight pressures on 25 pass-blocking snaps.

Or, the team could move Norton to right tackle and Pipkins to left tackle. Pipkins performed admirably well last season at left tackle, allowing just three pressures on 43 pass-block snaps.

While replacing Slater’s skill level in a pinch is impossible, there are a few ways the team can still get competency from the position.

If they choose to look at outside options, let’s take a look at how the Bolts can replace Slater.

Panthers HC Matt Rhule has absurd assessment of Chargers OT Rashawn Slater

Rashawn Slater was meant to be an NFL offensive tackle, a really good one.

During the pre-draft process last year, Rashawn Slater was tabbed as a guard by many.

It just so happens that the Panthers had him labeled as one, too.

Head coach Matt Rhule talked on “The Mac Attack,” a local radio show in Charlotte, NC, and was asked a variety of questions. One response, however, drew a lot of attention from those on social media.

Rhule was asked about the decision to pass on Slater for cornerback Jaycee Horn with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

“Rashawn hadn’t played the year before, he wasn’t ideal tackle size. There were a lot of questions if he was a guard or tackle and the same thing with Alijah Vera-Tucker and it was really are you going to take a guy who’s a guard at this number? I’ve had a chance to go back and watch Rashawn and he’s playing with a really mobile quarterback, he’s a really good player.”

There were rumblings that Slater would have to kick inside due to his height and length not being to NFL standards. This all came after he dominated elite competition at left tackle at Northwestern.

Los Angeles did not think so.

The Bolts knew they were going to have him protect Justin Herbert’s blindside all along when they selected him with the No. 13 overall selection, and his rookie season showed why Slater was destined to be an NFL offensive tackle, a really good one.

Drawing tough matchups weekly, Slater lived up to the challenges, allowing just 26 pressures and four sacks while mauling defenders in the run game en route to being named a Pro Bowler.

Chargers OT Rashawn Slater placed on COVID-19 list

There’s a chance the Chargers could be without their star left tackle when they play the Chiefs.

There’s a chance the Chargers could be without a key piece on the offensive line when they face the Chiefs on Thursday night.

According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Rashawn Slater is being placed on the COVID-19 list.

Slater is vaccinated, which means there’s still a chance he plays this week.

Slater would need to produce two negative COVID tests separated by 24 hours to be eligible to come off the reserve list.

Had he not been vaccinated, Slater would have been isolated from the team for ten days, thus eliminating any chances of playing.

Trey Pipkins will likely slide in and start at left tackle if Slater can’t play. However, there’s also the possibility of moving Matt Feiler over to left tackle and starting Senio Kelemete or Brenden Jaimes at left guard.

Why Chargers OT Rashawn Slater deserves recognition as best rookie in NFL

There’s a strong case to be made that Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater has been the best rookie in the league so far this season.

For the most part, the conversation about the best offensive rookies in the NFL typically revolves around the quarterbacks and skill-position players.

Meanwhile, lost in the shuffle, are those up front who largely attribute to the players compiling flashy performances and gaudy statistics.

That’s no different for Chargers tackle Rashawn Slater, who has made a solid case to be considered the top rookie in the league this season.

Playing like a seasoned veteran, protecting the blindside of Justin Herbert, Slater has only allowed five quarterback pressures and one hit.

Most notably, Slater has yet to allow a sack against the likes of Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Micah Parsons.

Let this soak in for a second. Slater has not allowed a sack since Week 11 of 2018 when he played his final collegiate season at Northwestern.

In addition to being a premier pass protector, Slater has been an outstanding run blocker, overpowering defenders and creating run lanes on a consistent basis.

Plug-and-play left tackles do not grow on trees nowadays, which is why the Chargers are fortunate they were able to stand pat in the draft and take one who has All-Pro potential.

So while the signal-callers and pass-catchers will get most of the headlines, Slater’s play early on should justify that he is more than deserving of being considered for this year’s top rookie honors.

What we learned about Chargers rookie OT Rashawn Slater during spring practices

The Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round pick made a good early impression.

The Chargers landed a gem in offensive tackle Rashawn Slater with their first-round pick in this year’s draft.

How did Slater do during the offseason workouts the past couple of months? ESPN’s Shelley Smith was in attendance for the team’s organized team activities, where she was able to see him firsthand.

Slater is solid, if not a bit smaller than you would expect. Nicknamed “The Wall,” he opted out of the 2020 season at Northwestern, but in 2019 he allowed zero sacks and was awesome against Ohio State’s star pass-rusher Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick last year. There were some pre-draft questions about Slater’s arm length, which didn’t seem to pose a problem in shorts and cleats.

Smith highlights Slater’s physical traits, which were seen as a potential issue for him to stick at the tackle at this level throughout the pre-draft process. However, he has appeared to defy the odds in the early going.

While there may still be concerns with Slater’s long-term outlook at tackle, he is technically sound, very intelligent, physical and consistent which shows both in the pass- and run-blocking department to stick around there.

During OTAs, Slater was with the first-team offense, with the rest of the line consisting of Matt Feiler at left guard, Corey Linsley at center, Oday Aboushi at right guard and Bryan Bulaga at right tackle.

Even though there wasn’t any contact, it’s good to hear that Slater did well this spring. Onto training camp next month, where he will really get to show his worth in one-on-ones against edge defender Joey Bosa.