Jacob Spomer Is the Starting Center. Week 1 Is Two Weeks Away.

With Biadasz on IR and Slater's availability still unresolved, the Chargers' depth chart at center lists Jacob Spomer first and Jake Slaughter second — two names that hadn't appeared in a meaningful snap count all camp. That's the reality heading into the final stretch of the preseason.

At left tackle, Slater remains active on paper but has been essentially absent from practice for weeks. The depth chart shows Trevor Penning and Laekin Vakalahi behind him at the tackle position. Neither is a plug-and-play answer for one of the more demanding assignments in pass protection.

The Chargers have known this was coming since August 23rd. What they haven't shown publicly is a clear plan for it. My read is that the next ten days are less about evaluation and more about settling on combinations — figuring out which of these interior and edge options can function together before the opener, not which one is the ideal long-term solution.

Herbert threw for 3,886 yards and 26 touchdowns last season behind a line that, when healthy, was among the better units in the AFC. The line that takes the field Week 1 may look considerably different. That's the problem the Chargers are solving right now, and the clock is short.