Slater Still Out, and the Chargers Have Covered This Ground Too Many Times Now

I've written some version of this note three times in the last week, which is itself the story. Rashawn Slater has missed three consecutive practices, and the injury report lists him as active — a designation that, at this point, is doing a lot of optimistic work. The Chargers spent a good chunk of July watching both starting tackles sit in questionable status, got the all-clear on August 1st, and exhaled. That exhale lasted about nine days.

The contingency planning the front office did — adding Trey Pipkins to compete at left guard before any of this developed — looks less like roster management and more like someone sensed this was coming. That's either prescient or lucky. Either way, the depth behind Slater on the left side is thin, and three missed practices in camp is not nothing.

Herbert's pocket is only as good as the blindside protecting it. He's durable — 17 games last season — but durability at quarterback and durability on the line are different problems, and the Chargers have had the second one all offseason. Worth watching the next few days closely.