Two of the key stars that will determine the Chargers' fate in 2026 are LT Rashawn Slater and RT Joe Alt. Both are returning from season-ending injuries suffered last season. Throughout May and June, the tone was generally positive on them being ready for training camp. During May OTAs, Harbaugh said, "it looks that way" when asked if Slater and Alt would be ready for July's training camp. Both Slater and Alt had the expectation that they would be cleared for training camp as well.
Harbaugh was asked about both of their statuses at Wednesday's training camp media availability. Per LA's head coach, they are both medically cleared. Harbaugh also said that everyone on the team passed their physical for training camp.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh had great news on Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater's statuses going forward.
Harbaugh acknowledged that the whole team will also have a "ramp up" period, including Slater and Alt as they return from their respective injuries.
Here was Harbaugh's full quote on the workload that they'll both have in camp:
"It's like a plane just starting on a runway," Harbaugh explained. "It's gonna get moving, it's gonna get going-and then it's going to start going so fast it's going to take off and be flying. But there's a ramp up...I think of it as a glide theory that we move into. Pretty much we're not doing anything that we haven't done already. Mindset would be much like an OTA for me, what they've already done."
Harbaugh said that Slater and Alt will have the same ramp up to the rest of the team, which should be seen as a good thing. As Harbaugh alluded to with everyone passing their physicals, neither Slater or Alt are starting on PUP.
Next Friday will be one year since Slater tore his patellar tendon on August 7th. 2025. By all accounts on his performance throughout the spring and summer, he's ahead of where he needs to be. While Alt's ankle injury wasn't quite as drastic as Slater's, he still had to go through his own rehab process. Both players being cleared for camp is a promising sign for them ultimately playing in Week 1 vs. the Cardinals.
There will be questions about what percentage of Alt/Slater we'll get and how early they'll be in peak form during the season. Until real football is being played, we really won't know. But the view on Slater and Alt so far? So far, so good.
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