Joe Alt is already sounding like a player who expects to be all the way back.
The Chargers offensive tackle gave a strong update on his ankle Wednesday during the first week of training camp, saying the work he put in this offseason was focused on eliminating any hesitation after the high ankle sprain that cut into his 2025 season.
“You can't, I mean, in my mindset, you can't really do that. You can't have those be those hesitant hesitancies because then you play slow. So in my mind, it was, you know, really making sure I attacked my rehab in the offseason,” Alt said.
He said he made a point of testing the ankle in ways that would mimic the speed and demands of real games.
“You know made sure I put my ankle in situations like it was going to be as close as I could to game speed and, you know, practice reps so I could go out here and be confident, and I feel like I did that. So there wasn't anything that, you know, made me feel slow yesterday,” Alt added.
That kind of confidence matters for any NFL player, especially someone trying to get back into the rhythm of the game after missing time. Alt’s rehab work was clearly aimed at making sure the injury didn’t linger in his head, and he’s using practice reps now to keep building that comfort.
The injury cost him a big chunk of last season. Alt appeared in just six games after suffering the high ankle sprain, and his absence was felt across an offensive line that struggled with consistency, which made life tougher for Justin Herbert. It also meant Alt lost valuable reps, something that matters even more for a younger player still stacking experience.
Even with that missed time, Alt showed plenty in 2025. He was forced to play out of position at left tackle after Rashawn Slater missed the entire season with a torn patellar tendon, and he handled the job well.
According to Pro Football Focus, Alt gave up just one sack and seven pressures while committing only one penalty. His PFF grades were strong across the board: an overall grade of 79, which ranked No. 16 among 89 offensive tackles, a pass-blocking grade of 82.3, good for No. 6 among 89 OTs, and a run-blocking grade of 70.8, which ranked No. 30 among 89 OTs.
That kind of production is why there’s so much confidence in what he can become. Alt already looks like a player moving toward elite territory.
And with Slater now seeming to be fully healthy, Alt should be able to shift back to his natural spot at right tackle next season. If that happens, Herbert could end up with one of the best tackle duos in the NFL.
If Alt, Slater and the rest of the line reach their potential, the ceiling for this offense could be enormous.
In Other News...
Chargers Took A Bigger Swing At Center Than Fans Realized
The Chargers search for help at center had more layers to it than the eventual move for Tyler Biadasz suggested. Los Angeles viewed the position as a real priority this offseason, and Biadasz became the answer after he was cut loose by Washington. He was brought in as a fit for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels scheme, with the expectation that he could provide a clearer upgrade over Bradley Bozeman.
Tyler Linderbaum was part of the conversation, too, which hints at how aggressive the Chargers were willing to be in reworking the middle of the offensive line. Instead of landing the younger option they had eyes on, they pivoted once Biadasz became available, and that decision now sits as one of the more interesting behind-the-scenes storylines of the offseason. Linderbaum ended up elsewhere, but the Chargers willingness to chase a bigger swing says plenty about how seriously they treated the spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Harris Is Forcing His Way Into The Chargers WR Picture
Tre Harris arrived in camp with the kind of pedigree that usually earns a long look, and he has given the Chargers plenty of reason to keep watching. The second-round pick from last year has clearly taken a step forward during training camp under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, showing the sort of development teams hope to see once a young receiver settles into an NFL program.
McDaniel has already pointed to Harriss improved strength and explosiveness as signs he is pushing his way into the receiver mix. With the offense being reworked and spots in the depth chart still there to claim, Harris is turning his offseason progress into a real case for a bigger role, and the next stretch of camp should tell the rest of the story. [Read more 🡒]