Roughly a week into preseason, the Los Angeles Chargers’ biggest offensive line question was already ugly enough: who was going to claim one of the starting guard jobs in front of Justin Herbert?
Now it looks even messier.
Tyler Biadasz’s injury has blown up the whole setup. Jake Slaughter, the rookie who had been drafted to play guard, has moved back to center, and that leaves the Chargers scrambling to sort out left guard all over again. The deeper problem is that the backup options up front aren’t exactly forcing the issue, even after the team added free agents for Mike McDaniel and used four of its eight draft picks on linemen.
There’s not much time left for the Chargers to find something that looks dependable.
After the preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers, ESPN’s Kris Rhim said the first practice afterward “was one of the worst days for the offense.” Rhim reported that Justin Herbert threw one interception and had multiple turnover-worthy passes beyond that, while Slaughter had trouble against Jamaree Caldwell and the line as a whole had a rough day.
The shuffling only underscored how unsettled things are. Rashawn Slater briefly returned to practice after his apparent setback, while Travis Burke and Trey Pipkins split time at left tackle. Pipkins opened the day at left guard before handing that spot to Kayode Awosika.
That’s the part that stands out most: nobody is really taking control at guard.
Pipkins, who is supposed to be the primary backup swing tackle, keeps getting first-team work there, and that doesn’t exactly scream confidence. Awosika, a mid-tier free-agent addition, still hasn’t separated himself either.
Branson Taylor has been one of the camp’s biggest surprises, and he’s drawn enough attention that he could end up starting in Week 1. But with the way this competition has unfolded, it’s fair to ask whether his rise says as much about the lack of quality around him as it does about his own play.
Cole Strange is part of the picture too. McDaniel’s signing of Strange as the starter at right guard was widely viewed as a shaky move, and he’s been uneven so far. Now he’s lining up next to a rookie center.
If this were only about a young center working through the usual bumps, it would be easier to shrug off. But with a left guard battle still unresolved this late in camp, and no obvious way to go shopping for a better answer in a lineman-thin NFL, the Chargers are staring at a problem that feels worthy of real concern.
In Other News...
Chargers May Have Found Unexpected O-Line Help At The Right Time
An undrafted rookie has quietly become one of the more interesting offensive line storylines in Chargers camp. Jacob Spomer has been getting work at center and, with injuries thinning that part of the depth chart, he has taken on added importance as the team looks for someone who can at least keep the middle stable in a pinch.
Spomers recent outing offered a promising snapshot of why the staff has kept paying attention. He posted an 82.6 percent pass-blocking rate and did not allow a sack or pressure, a solid sign for a player trying to carve out a role in pass protection. With Tyler Biadasz sidelined, the Chargers could use another dependable interior option, and Spomer is giving himself a real chance to stick around the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Have Found A Backfield Difference-Maker In Omarion Hampton
During a joint practice against the 49ers, Omarion Hampton gave the Chargers a flash of the kind of backfield presence they have been looking for. The young runner showed off the physicality and burst that have made him such an intriguing piece, even powering through a run that ended with a defender on the turf. It was the sort of practice sequence that can turn heads quickly, especially for a team still sorting out how much punch it can generate on offense.
Justin Herbert also noticed, praising Hampton for his toughness and leadership as the back enters his second season healthy after an injury-shortened rookie year. For the Chargers, the appeal is obvious: Hampton looks like a player who could matter right away in an offense that needs reliable difference-makers under coach Mike McDaniel. The bigger question now is whether this training-camp momentum carries into a role that matches the promise he showed on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers O-Line Plans Just Took A Brutal Hit Before Week 1
A few days before Week 1, the Chargers were forced to scramble along the offensive line after Tyler Biadasz suffered a severe ACL injury and additional knee damage during joint practices. Los Angeles placed him on injured reserve, ending his season, and the blow landed at a time when the team was still trying to settle its protection plans in front of Jim Harbaugh's first roster.
Harbaugh called it a freak accident, but the real challenge now is practical: the Chargers need to sort through replacement options quickly and keep the line from becoming a weak spot before the games start counting. The team did make a roster addition in wide receiver Gary Jennings, yet the bigger question remains how Los Angeles fills the void created by Biadasz's absence. [Read more 🡒]