Overview
- Slater has not practiced for four consecutive sessions, a streak that reached into Tuesday of training camp after he left last week’s padded practice with a flare-up.
- Head coach Jim Harbaugh described the problem as minor and muscle-related and said it is not connected to Slater’s ruptured patellar tendon from 2025.
- Slater told reporters the issue was a “little” flare-up and said it is nothing to be concerned about as the team manages his return thoughtfully.
- The Chargers do not plan to play Slater in the preseason opener and have rotated Trey Pipkins and Branson Taylor at left tackle while giving younger linemen expanded reps.
- Slater missed the 2025 season after patellar tendon surgery, so the club’s cautious approach reflects both the tackle’s importance in protecting Justin Herbert and a larger league trend of limiting early reps for players coming off major surgery.