Chargers right tackle Joe Alt did not practice on Wednesday, setting up a strong possibility that the right tackle will not play this week as the team continues to seek clarity on his neck injury he suffered against the Seahawks.
To further that notion, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Alt is not expected to play in this week’s game against the Broncos. It was also noted that there are no plans for placing Alt on IR which means the young tackle is not expected to miss more than three games.
Alt has been healthy for the better part of the first four weeks this year but suffered his nexk injury when Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori launched himself towards Justin Herbert in the pocket but missed and collided with Alt’s head instead. Emmanwori is a massive safety at nearly 230 pounds so this was understandably a very violent collision to a less-than-ideal area of the body.
With Rashawn Slater (high ankle sprain) and Trevor Penning (concussion) also set to miss this week, the Chargers are once again looking at the group that finished the Seahawks game which feature four rookies in Jake Slaughter, Jacob Spomer, Logan Taylor, and Travis Burke.
Branson Taylor potentially returning from IR this week would help keep Slaughter at center with the former likely slotting in at left guard. That would make the most likely starting lineup (from left to right): Logan Taylor, Branson Taylor, Jacob Slaughter, Cole Strange, and Travis Burke.
