Chargers’ Offensive Line Struggles Amid Injuries and Trades

The Los Angeles Chargers are currently 6-3 and second in the standings in a tight AFC West race. They are also undefeated in divisional play, with the Denver Broncos holding a slight edge at 7-2 overall and the Kansas City Chiefs falling another game back with a loss in Buffalo to bring their record to 5-4. History suggests the Chargers need 9 total wins for a wildcard berth, plus their 5-1 AFC conference play record helps, but they have a legit shot at winning the division for the first time since 2009.

Offensive Line Injury Woes

Credit: Ty Nowell/ Los Angeles Chargers

So far in the 2025 season, there has been a string of injuries, especially to the offensive line. All-Pro LT Rashawn Slater didn’t make it out of training camp before landing on injured reserve, ending his season before it officially started. That was after signing an extension making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league. RT Joe Alt, who switched sides to replace Slater, has been the Chargers’ best lineman, but he was just placed on injured reserve after re-injuring the ankle that cost him three games this season. The loss of both Slater and Alt is the single most important ingredient to the flavor of this offensive line, but that is just the start of this marinade.

OT Trey Pipkins was expected to be the Chargers’ primary swing tackle but was thrust into the starting lineup. He took over right tackle duties to start the season, but his injuries led to the signing of OT Bobby Hart in week 6. Hart last played in the NFL in 2022, and he has gone on to start 4 straight games, but injuries had him play just 11 snaps last week. His availability for this week, along with Pipkins’, remains questionable.

Prized free agent signing RG Mekhi Becton was expected to shore up some of the interior pressure and open massive rush lanes for running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton. Instead, his availability for game day each week has been questionable, and his play on the field suggests he hasn’t been given enough time to come to full health to provide quality play. This is because the Chargers’ primary backup at guard, Jamaree Salyer, has missed four games of his own.

State of the Offensive Line

Credit: Cassandra Serrano/ Los Angeles Chargers

If you count Rashawn Slater, 10 different players have been shuffled at different spots along the offensive line. 5 different players have taken a snap at left tackle, another 5 players at right tackle, and 3 players at right guard. The only two positions of consistency have been left guard Zion Johnson and center Bradley Bozeman, who have yet to miss any time. This shuffling has led to a lack of chemistry, missed assignments, confusion, and complete dysfunction.

Justin Herbert has been pressured 155 times, which is 27 more pressures than the next closest player in Cam Ward at 128. His 28 sacks rank third most. He ranks in the middle of the pack in pressure-to-sack ratio at 18.1%, which shows his ability to overcome a horrendous situation upfront. It has also led to Herbert showing off more dual-threat ability. Among all NFL quarterbacks, Justin Herbert leads the league in rushing yards with 305 yards and 1 score. He has the highest PFF rush grade among quarterbacks at 91.5.

Current Starting Offensive Line

As of now, the starting offensive line looks like:

*RBLK is an arbitrary run block letter grade by PFF. It is subjective but gives an indicator on how well a player is playing when blocking for a run. 60 is average.

**PBLK is an arbitrary pass block letter grade by PFF. It is subjective but gives an indicator on how well a player is playing while blocking for a pass. 60 is average.

***Pass Block efficiency is a PFF stat that measures pressures allowed on a per-snap basis.

As you can tell, only Bobby Hart has provided above-average grades as a pass blocker. The entire unit has struggled to consistently open rush lanes. For reference, Joe Alt had a 70.8 RBLK / 82.3 PBLK grade with a 97.8 efficiency, which shows the value a single player makes on the offensive line. All of these issues prompted a need for a trade, but quality starting offensive linemen are rarely available.

Trade for OL Trevor Penning

Credit: G Newman Lowrance/AP

At the trade deadline and with the loss of Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater for the season, the Chargers traded for former 1st-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, OL Trevor Penning. Penning has experience at both tackle positions and left guard, but he’s fallen out of favor in New Orleans. He lost his starting job at left tackle to Kelvin Banks Jr., and the right tackle job to Taliese Fuaga. He’s been the Saints’ starting left guard since week 4, but on the final year of his rookie deal, and with no 5th-year option extended, the Saints moved Penning for a 6th-round pick.

If he performs well, the Chargers get a first look at a potential Trey Pipkins replacement as a backup swing tackle. Penning gets a change of scenery and an opportunity to play himself into a larger contract than what he would receive if the season ended today. It’s a win-win scenario for both the Chargers and Trevor Penning.

Penning is 6’7”/325 pounds and has a mean streak you want in the trenches. He’s big, physical, and finishes plays (sometimes after the whistle). He’s played his first full season in 2024 with over 1,000 snaps at right tackle, where he allowed 54 pressures (2nd most) and 5 sacks. Those pressures were more hurried throws than hits or sacks. He graded well in the run (70.1 RBLK) last season.

Penning may get his first chance to start this week against the Steelers. Bobby Hart did not practice, and Penning has worked at both left and right tackle spots. If Hart can’t play, then Penning will likely get his first start. Expect Penning to play left tackle and Pipkins/Hart to split duties at right tackle.