Joe Alt is expected to miss the Los Angeles Chargers’ game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday because of a neck injury, leaving Justin Herbert’s offense facing another change at tackle.
Alt continues to rehabilitate the injury he suffered against Seattle and that there are currently no plans to place him on injured reserve. The report points toward a Week 5 absence without establishing when the Pro Bowl tackle will return.
#Chargers Pro Bowl OT Joe Alt is expected to miss this Sunday’s game against the #Broncos with a neck injury, sources say.
Alt continues to rehab the injury suffered last week at Seattle, and there are no plans for IR. pic.twitter.com/qOVKtSmht7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2026
Alt’s availability became a question after he left the Seahawks game. Now the Chargers must prepare for a division opponent with uncertainty extending across the offensive line, including the players who would ordinarily provide cover for an injured starter.
Earlier Wednesday, Jim Harbaugh said Alt would not practice. Rashawn Slater, Trevor Penning and Kayode Awosika were also on that list, dealing with ankle, concussion and fibula injuries, respectively.
That leaves the coaching staff working through decisions at both tackle spots and left guard as Los Angeles searches for its first victory.
Who could replace Joe Alt against the Broncos?
Travis Burke has already handled the assignment. The rookie took over at right tackle after Alt was hurt late in the second quarter against Seattle and played 49 snaps.
The same update said Slater suffered a high ankle sprain, and Penning remained in the concussion protocol. Harbaugh indicated the group that finished the Seattle game would be central to the team’s planning, while leaving the exact arrangement open.
“We’ll work on that during the week,” Harbaugh said.
The Chargers’ unofficial Week 5 depth chart, released Tuesday, lists Burke and Alex Harkey as backups at both tackle positions. Slater and Alt remain listed as starters, a reminder that the chart is not a declaration of who will be healthy enough to play.
It also lists Jake Slaughter at center and Cole Strange at right guard, with Jacob Spomer behind Slaughter. Logan Taylor appears among the interior backups, although the Seattle game demonstrated that the staff is willing to use him outside when necessary.
Those options matter because replacing Alt may be only one part of the lineup decision. Moving a player to cover another injury can create a second vacancy, forcing the Chargers to choose a workable combination rather than simply promote the next name beneath each starter.
Four rookies finished the Seattle game together
The changes unfolded in stages during Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks. After Burke replaced Alt, Penning’s departure brought Taylor into the game at left guard.
Slater’s later exit prompted another reshuffle: Taylor moved to left tackle, Slaughter shifted from center to left guard and Spomer entered at center. Strange stayed at right guard, leaving him alongside four rookies.
That group received encouragement from Herbert after the game.
“I thought they stepped up huge,” Herbert said. “Obviously, it’s really tough when you lose a few guys like that. A lot of those guys playing in their first games, they stepped up and made some big plays and held their own out there.”
The Chargers had invested heavily in those positions during the spring. Slaughter was a second-round selection and Burke a fourth-round pick, with Taylor and Harkey taken in the sixth round.
Spomer joined as an undrafted free agent. The distinction is relevant to the current situation: Los Angeles has several young options it deliberately brought into the organization, but the injuries are requiring those players to contribute together much earlier than a healthy starting lineup would have demanded.
Veteran depth has also been reduced. The Chargers placed guard/tackle Trey Pipkins III on injured reserve Sept. 26, removing another experienced option before the injuries in Seattle.
Chargers add Daniel Brunskill as another option
Los Angeles responded Tuesday by signing Daniel Brunskill to its practice squad. The team released defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson from that unit and opened the practice windows for guard/tackle Branson Taylor and fullback/defensive lineman Scott Matlock.
Branson Taylor is a different player from Logan Taylor, the rookie who moved between guard and tackle Sunday. Opening a practice window also does not establish that a player will be activated for the Denver game.
Brunskill’s signing provides another possibility, but it was a practice-squad addition rather than an announcement that he would start. The immediate question is whether the Chargers use him to supplement the young group or make a larger adjustment before kickoff.
What the tackle injuries mean for Justin Herbert
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel discussed the importance of healthy tackles well before this week’s injuries. Back in May, he explained that replacing top players at those positions requires changes to the offense’s blocking approach, potentially including an eligible receiver staying in to help.
“Elite tackles are unicorns in this league,” McDaniel said.
That creates a practical trade-off for the Chargers. Additional protection can help the replacement tackles, but a player assigned to block cannot simultaneously provide Herbert with another immediate receiving option.
How much help Los Angeles uses will shape the passing game as well as the line’s responsibilities.
Los Angeles had already lost David Njoku to a fibula injury in September, reducing its tight end options before these tackle injuries.
The offense also needs to reduce the mistakes that preceded the late comeback in Seattle. In the 30-23 defeat, Herbert threw two first-half interceptions, and the Chargers entered halftime down 20-6.
His late strip-sack ended their final opportunity to erase the deficit. The line changes therefore sit within a broader offensive problem.
Los Angeles needs more reliable protection, but better ball security and an earlier offensive response also matter for a team that has opened 0-4.
Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium begins at 1:05 p.m. PST. The Chargers then visit Kansas City before their Week 7 bye.
Rapoport’s report offers no confirmed return date for Alt, so the immediate task is preparing the replacement group for Denver.
