With Slauson out for year, Chargers add offensive lineman Ola

Though things have been going quite well for the Los Angeles Chargers during their recent three-game winning streak, not all of the news has been positive.

During the team’s 21-0 win over the Denver Broncos, offensive lineman Matt Slauson went down with a bicep injury that is going to cost him the rest of the season. That’s tough news for the Chargers, as Slauson has proven to be an excellent signing since the Chargers grabbed him off the free-agent market last season.

Though the injuries haven’t been anywhere near as bad for the Chargers this season as they were last, this is what that will be tough to deal with. Rookie Dan Feeney and Michael Schofield should get the shot to fill in for Slauson as one of the team’s starting guards.

More from Bolt Beat

• LA Chargers: 3 early takeaways from 2021 minicamp thus far
• LA Chargers: Drue Tranquill takes a jab at Gus Bradley’s defense
• LA Chargers second-year players: Nothing to lose and a lot to gain
• LA Chargers: Why running back could be a big issue for the Bolts
• LA Chargers: Chris Rumph’s upside is Melvin Ingram-like, but better

But with Slauson going on injured reserve, the team had an open roster spot. That spot went to another offensive lineman, and one who happens to have ties to the organization.

Undrafted out of Hampton University in 2011, Michael Ola has played for seven NFL teams and spent time with the Chargers in 2015. He was most recently with the Buffalo Bills, who released him prior to the start of this season.

Still, this is a decent signing for the halfway point of the season when good depth is scarce. Ola has played in 29 NFL games, starting 19 of those. He has also played in the Arena Football League and the CFL.

If the Chargers are healthy along the offensive line, Ola will likely appear as a gameday inactive unless a guy like Feeney should struggle. However, this is a solid move by the Chargers.