The Chargers may be inching toward a badly needed boost up front, with right tackle Joe Alt spotted going through drills on Wednesday.
That matters because Los Angeles has spent this season scrambling for stability along the offensive line. Justin Herbert has needed more protection than he’s gotten, and Alt’s possible return would at least give the Chargers a chance to patch one of the biggest leaks on the roster.
Alt has been out since suffering a neck injury in the Chargers’ Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He left that game early and has already missed matchups against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. With Rashawn Slater already out for the season, Alt’s absence has left an injury-hit line even thinner.
The Chargers entered the year expecting the front to hold up better for Herbert. Instead, the injuries have forced the team to lean on inexperienced players and keep reshuffling the lineup. The result has been a unit that has struggled to find any sort of rhythm.
Alt being back on the practice field is a good sign, but it does not guarantee he is ready for game action. A neck injury is not something to rush through, and the Chargers will need to judge whether he can handle the physical load of an NFL game before making any decision.
The timing, though, is obvious. Los Angeles is coming off another disappointing loss and is sitting at 0-6 heading into its bye week. With the season slipping away, getting healthy becomes the priority, even if the bigger picture already feels bleak.
Herbert’s situation only heightens the need. The Chargers’ franchise quarterback has dealt with pressure and an offense that has lacked consistency. The line is not the only issue, but better protection would at least give him a cleaner chance to settle in and play more freely.
There’s also value for the coaching staff in seeing what this offense looks like with more of its starting pieces available. Mike McDaniel’s offense has not produced the results many expected, and the nonstop injuries have made it hard to build any real flow.
Even so, caution has to come first. There’s no reason to push Alt back before he’s medically cleared, especially with the Chargers at 0-6. His long-term health matters more than trying to salvage a season that has already gone off track.
Los Angeles has a bye week before facing the Los Angeles Rams on November 1. If Alt keeps progressing, his return could come soon. For now, Wednesday’s drills are just a first step - but for a team that needs something, anything, to go right, it was a welcome one.
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