The Los Angeles Chargers secured a 27-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, but the win was overshadowed by a serious injury to left tackle Joe Alt. Alt suffered a high-ankle sprain on his right ankle, the same injury that sidelined him earlier this season, and may require surgery following a Monday MRI.
In a hard-fought Week 9 matchup on November 2, 2025, the Chargers improved to 6-3 with their win against the Titans, but the postgame focus shifted to the health of their offensive line. Joe Alt, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was carted off the field in the second quarter after appearing to suffer a low hit from behind. This marks his second high-ankle sprain of the season on the same right ankle, first occurring in Week 4 against the Giants, which caused him to miss three games.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh provided no immediate update after the game, describing it simply as an ankle injury. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, sources believe Alt will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the severity, with a procedure potentially needed to repair the damage. Alt is expected to miss at least the Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Alt's importance to the Chargers cannot be overstated. The team is 5-1 when he plays and 1-2 without him, with their offense ranking among the NFL's top five in expected points added per play when he's protecting quarterback Justin Herbert's blindside. Without Alt, the unit drops to around the level of the Carolina Panthers' No. 22 offense. Herbert has faced the third-most sacks (28) and the most contacts (80) in the league this season, including 10 against the Titans, where he also led the team in rushing with 57 yards and a touchdown.
The injury compounds ongoing offensive line woes for Los Angeles. Starting left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon in the preseason, shortly after signing a record deal as the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman. Backup Austin Deculus, who started three games earlier this season after being acquired from the Houston Texans, is the likely replacement, though he suffered an ankle injury in Week 7. Right tackle Bobby Hart also exited the Titans game with a groin injury and did not return, adding to the instability. The final offensive drive featured an makeshift line of Jamaree Salyer at left tackle, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Foster Sarell at right guard, and Trey Pipkins at right tackle—Salyer's first start at tackle this season and Sarell's first at guard.
Guard Mekhi Becton was inactive due to a hand injury. Alt enters Week 10 with an 81.0 Pro Football Focus grade over six games, ranking fifth among offensive tackles. His potential extended absence could jeopardize the Chargers' offensive protection around Herbert as they push forward in the season.