Injuries have plagued the LA Chargers this season. If the Chargers had just a modicum of health this year, they would be the unrivaled favorites in what is a wide-open AFC. Instead, the Chargers have to fight tooth and nail in the NFL Playoffs, likely as the No. 7 seed.
While the Chargers won't get star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back at any point in time this year, the team may at least get some offensive line reinforcements for the NFL Playoffs.
Jamaree Salyer missed last week's game due to injury and the Chargers felt his absence. Bobby Hart, who succeeded at right tackle earlier in the year, struggled mightily at left tackle, causing the Bolts to bench him in favor of the not-so-reliable Austin Deculus.
Thankfully, it does not look like the Chargers will be forced to scramble in the NFL Playoffs in the same way they did against the Houston Texans. Jim Harbaugh provided an update for Salyer on Wednesday, giving real hope to Chargers fans in the process.
"He's doing good. He's trending in a really good direction, and it's gotten better every week, every day. So it doesn't look like he'll be able to go this week, but possibly next," Harbaugh said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
Jamaree Salyer should be good to suit up for the Chargers in the NFL Playoffs
While nothing is guaranteed, Harbaugh being this revealing about Salyer almost confirms that he will play in the NFL Playoffs. Harbaugh is historically tight-lipped when it comes to injuries and doesn't like to provide context in this way.
If Harbaugh says that Salyer might be able to play in the Wild Card Round, it's a good sign that he will definitely be able to play in the Wild Card Round.
Who knows, if the Chargers had something to play for in Week 18 he may have even suited up then. But with the Bolts already resting Justin Herbert among other starters, it makes no sense for the team to start someone on the mend at left tackle. Thus, Salyer gets another week to rest and recover before the biggest game of the season.
He may be no Slater or Alt, but Salyer was providing the level of play at left tackle the Chargers have yearned for since the injuries. Salyer allowed eight total pressures in three starts at left tackle before getting injured. Over half of those pressures came in one game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was more than serviceable in his other two starts.
The Chargers don't need an Alt or Slater-level performance out of Salyer if they play the New England Patriots in the Wild Card Round. New England doesn't have an elite pass rusher and has the eighth fewest sacks per game this season.
Every single team the Chargers have played this season except the Raiders rank ahead of the Patriots in sacks per game. Playing New England would be a reprieve in that regard, and Salyer would be more than enough.