The LA Chargers went from having one of the best tackle duos in the sport to one of the worst starting offensive lines with one bad rep at practice last week. Superstar left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon, prompting Joe Alt to move to left tackle and Trey Pipkins to start at right tackle.
The Chargers are now forced to start the three linemen who held the team back the most last season in Pipkins, Zion Johnson and Bradley Bozeman. Thankfully, the front office brought in Mekhi Becton, who is fresh off a Super Bowl and career season with the Philadelphia Eagles, to start at right guard.
That is, as long as Becton is healthy and ready to go for the start of the season. While there have been no indications that Becton won't be ready for the start of the 2025 season, fans are starting to worry as his absence at Chargers training camp hit the two-week mark on Tuesday.
Mekhi Becton is not practicing today. He is working out in the weight room. Now two full weeks since Becton last practiced.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 12, 2025
Chargers fans are officially worried about Mekhi Becton
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman previously said Becton's injury is extremely minor, which seems to indicate that he will be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
That being said, the Chargers haven't always been the most transparent with injuries since Jim Harbaugh took over. This wouldn't be the first time that a minor injury turned into something major. The longer Becton sits out in practice, the more this becomes a concern.
Roman did address these concerns when speaking to the media after practice on Tuesday. Roman reiterated that it is a minor issue that he is not concerned about. However, when asked if Becton would play in Week 1, Roman said he expected it but was not going to put anything in concrete.
Great. We went from "extremely minor" to not committing to whether or not he will play in Week 1.
Time is on the Chargers' side, but it won't last forever. The team is just over three weeks removed from its Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. Becton needs to not only return in that timeframe, but also return soon enough to build up a rapport with the rest of the offensive line.
If push comes to shove and Becton can't suit up to start the season the Chargers are going to be in trouble. Jamaree Salyer would most likely start at right guard, giving Justin Herbert an offensive line that has one elite player (Alt) and four below-average starters.
Becton starting won't fix any potential issues at center, left guard, and right tackle, but it would help remedy them. The last thing the Chargers need is another issue on the offensive line when there is already so much in flux.
The hope is that the Chargers are simply being extremely cautious with their big free-agent signing and that this isn't a case of Harbaugh trying to keep information close to the vest. But the longer fans go without clarity, the more they are naturally going to worry.