Tyler Biadasz, the Chargers’ big offseason center signing, got carted off Tuesday during a joint practice with the 49ers after San Francisco defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez fell on his left knee. The dude couldn’t put any weight on it, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim and The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. This is a brutal early blow for a Los Angeles team looking to finally make a serious leap.
The Chargers Thought They Fixed It, Seriously
When the Commanders unexpectedly released Tyler Biadasz in February, the Chargers were all over it. I mean, a former Pro Bowler, a long-time solid starter, still only 28 years old, just available for the taking? Los Angeles *knew* it had to fix its dismal offensive line from 2025. Biadasz could sign anywhere because he had been released after the season, so the Chargers snagged him on a three-year, $30 million deal before free agency even opened. They thought they had filled a major hole, right? Then came Tuesday. Quarterback Justin Herbert summed it up pretty well: “I don’t know exactly what happened but hoping for the best for him.” That tells you everything. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston also left practice with what appeared to be a lower-body injury after trying to come down with a contested catch. Now, the Chargers do have some insurance with second-round pick Jake Slaughter, but putting highly coveted offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s offense on a rookie’s shoulders is asking a lot. McDaniel’s scheme uses a ton of pre-snap motion, demanding crucial synergy between the QB and center, and his wide zone running scheme requires linemen to cover a lot of ground in sync.
A Line That Just Can’t Catch a Break
This isn’t some random bad luck for the Chargers; this offensive line has been a problem. Fixing it was a significant focus this offseason for a reason. Last year, left tackle Rashawn Slater missed the entire season with a knee injury, days after becoming the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Right tackle Joe Alt missed most of it with a high ankle sprain. The interior? It wasn’t any prettier. They cycled through combination after combination up front in 2025, and all of them struggled. Just look at the PFF ranks for their guys who played at least 500 snaps: Jamaree Salyer was T-55th out of 70 OTs, Trey Pipkins 67th, Bobby Hart 68th, Austin Deculus 70th. On the interior, Zion Johnson was 47th out of 66 OGs, Trevor Penning 56th, Mekhi Becton 65th, and center Bradley Bozeman was dead last at 34th out of 34. Herbert faced quick pressure on a mind-boggling 177 dropbacks, with no one else facing more than 150. Salyer, Hart, Deculus, Johnson, Becton, and Bozeman are all gone. The Chargers invested in vets like Biadasz, Kayode Awosika, and Cole Strange, plus rookies Slaughter, Travis Burke, Logan Taylor, and Alex Harkey. The returns of Slater and Alt were supposed to provide a “night-and-day difference.”
With Biadasz down, the pressure immediately ramps up on Jake Slaughter to run McDaniel’s complex offense. This isn’t just a minor setback; it’s a huge test of how deep that new OL depth really is. What happens next for that unit could define the early season for a team desperate to finally make a leap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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