Despite a strong start to the 2025 NFL season, it has just been one thing after another for the Los Angeles Chargers. Training camp and preseason headlines were dominated by Najee Harris' bizarre eye injury and Rashawn Slater's heartbreaking knee injury that sidelined him for the year.
Then, in Week 1, Mekhi Becton came down with an illness just hours before the season opener, and he missed Week 4 again with a concussion. Week 2 brought a gruesome Khalil Mack elbow dislocation, Harris then tore his Achilles, and both Derius Davis and Will Dissly missed Week 4.
Just when things could not get any worse, star offensive tackle Joe Alt, who was filling in for Slater on the left side, went down with an ankle injury during Sunday's game against the New York Giants. His absence was deflating, and Chargers fans were holding their breath for an update after their 21-18 loss.
Adam Schefter just provided some optimism about Chargers star Joe Alt
Thankfully, ESPN's Adam Schefter provided some positive news on that front. He went on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, and Chargers fans will surely rejoice about what he said concerning Alt's injury.
"Basically, [Alt] wanted to go back in, and they told him no," Schefter said. "He didn't want to accept that a high ankle sprain usually limits you and prevents you from playing for a couple of weeks. But he's going to get a second opinion [on Monday]. ... but it doesn't sound like he's going to miss a lot of time."
Whew. When fans saw Alt carted to the sideline and eventually in a walking boot during the second half of Sunday's game, they immediately feared the worst. Schefter's report, however, paints an entirely different picture.
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Don't be mistaken, the Chargers are still in hot water when it comes to their offensive line. The Giants made that poignantly clear in Week 4, as they were able to earn a win that they had no business pulling off if Alt and Becton were in the lineup all four quarters.
Greg Roman and Co. are going to have to get creative in how they design the offense going forward, as Austin Deculus was not exactly impressive against New York. But it sounds like the Chargers avoided disaster, and thanks to their 3-1 start, the season is far from over.
It's going to look wildly different for a couple of weeks in Los Angeles, and fans will be eagerly awaiting Alt's official timeline for return or if he'll be placed on IR. But Schefter's report is good news, no matter how you slice it.