Three games into the season, the Chargers are staring at a familiar problem up front.
This was supposed to be the year the offensive line settled in and gave Los Angeles a real foundation. Instead, the same concerns are back on the table, with Cole Strange struggling on the interior and both tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, dealing with their own early-season issues.
The biggest red flag has been Strange. The Chargers knew what they were getting after his struggles in Miami, and there were already questions about whether he could truly be an upgrade at right guard.
Those doubts have only grown louder. Strange owns a 35.7 overall PFF grade, which ranks 71st out of 73 qualified guards.
His 37.2 pass-blocking grade is 68th, and his 42.7 run-blocking grade is 69th.
That’s a tough number set for any team trying to build consistency in the trenches.
But the problems don’t stop there. The Chargers expected their tackles to be the strength of the unit, with Slater and Alt back together and positioned to anchor the line for years. Instead, both have come out of the gate unevenly.
Alt has been battling penalties and inconsistent play as he moves back to the right side and adjusts to Mike McDaniel’s new offensive system. Slater’s situation is different. He’s still working his way back from the devastating knee injury that cost him the 2025 season, and while there have been flashes of the old version of him, he hasn’t consistently looked like the dominant left tackle Chargers fans remember.
None of that means either player is a lost cause. It’s only been three games.
Slater is coming off a major injury, and Alt is still learning on the fly in a new setup. There are real reasons to expect improvement.
Still, the Chargers can’t just wait around for it.
Justin Herbert is once again dealing with shaky protection, and the offense has been unable to find much rhythm because of it. What looked like a solved problem in the offseason has quickly turned into a reminder that this group still has work to do.
The good news for Los Angeles is that this doesn’t have to become a full teardown. The bigger issue is simpler than that: the Chargers need their best linemen to play like their best linemen, and they need the interior to stop dragging the whole unit down.
Strange has to be better. Alt has to look like the player the Chargers drafted fifth overall. Slater needs time to get back to form.
Until that happens, it’s hard to say this line has actually fixed anything.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers Just Called Out A Problem With Young Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers is seeing the game from a different angle now, and the longtime Chargers quarterback turned high school head coach says that shift has sharpened how he evaluates todays passers. In a recent podcast interview, Rivers talked about his coaching experience, his return to the NFL conversation, and the way quarterback play has changed since his own playing days, drawing on examples like Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes while also reflecting on his years backing up Drew Brees.
What stood out most in the conversation was Rivers take on younger quarterbacks and the learning curve they face once they get to the league. Having spent time working with them as a coach, he framed the issue through both old-school preparation and the realities of todays game, which makes his perspective especially relevant for a franchise that has long lived with quarterback scrutiny. The full point of his criticism was aimed less at talent than at a problem he sees in how young players are being brought along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans May Need To Brace For A Khalil Mack Decision
The Chargers rough start has already put some early-season pressure on the roster, and the next few weeks could determine whether this is just a bad opening stretch or the beginning of a bigger reset. With a 0-3 record, the team is at least inviting outside questions about whether it can stay in the playoff hunt long enough to justify standing pat at the trade deadline.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Khalil Mack, whose contract runs only one season and makes him the kind of veteran contender would monitor if Los Angeles slips further back. ESPNs Dan Graziano floated the idea that if the Chargers are out of the race by deadline time, Mack could become a trade candidate for a team looking to upgrade its pass rush. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Week 4 Problem They Cant Ignore
Ladd McConkeys foot injury gave the Chargers an unwelcome complication this week, with the second-year receiver missing Thursday practice as Los Angeles starts turning its attention to Seattle. McConkey has quickly become one of the key pieces in the offense, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards, and his workload has made him central to how the Chargers want to move the ball.
Seattle is hardly the kind of opponent you want to face while sorting through uncertainty at receiver. The Seahawks bring a strong defense into the matchup, so the Chargers may need to be flexible if McConkey is limited or unavailable. For a team trying to keep its offense steady, his status is suddenly one of the most important developments to track heading into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]