Chargers rookie Joe Alt making strong case to start at right tackle
EL SEGUNDO — When rookie offensive lineman Joe Alt lined up at right tackle this week, he was matched up against longtime Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa, a four-time Pro Bowl selection. When he lined up at left tackle, he faced off against veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack, an eight-time selection.
Tall order?
Times two.
The Chargers’ coaching staff has moved Alt without hesitation so far in training camp. They did so without any concerns that he couldn’t handle the task. After all, he was the fifth overall pick in the draft in April, the son of a former Kansas City Chiefs left tackle, two-time Pro Bowl pick John Alt.
Alt certainly didn’t look out of place in any of the Chargers’ first six practices.
Just as their coaches expected.
“Iron sharpening iron,” Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Tuesday of pitting Alt against players of the experience and accomplishments of Bosa and Mack. “Joe’s got his mind in the exact right spot. He is humble and hungry and is a talented guy who is going to keep getting better because of his work ethic. We’re two days into it with the pads on and whatnot and he’s doing a great job. We expect big things out of Joe. No reason to believe otherwise.”
If all goes to plan, then Alt is likely to start the season on Sept. 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders at right tackle. Trey Pipkins III, who was the Chargers’ starter at right tackle last season, will shift to right guard. Bradley Bozeman will be the center with Rashawn Slater at left tackle and Zion Johnson at left guard.
In addition to supplanting Pipkins at right tackle, Alt also has made Jamaree Salyer the odd man out among the Chargers’ top five offensive linemen. Salyer started 31 of 34 games in his budding career, after the Chargers selected him in the sixth round of the 2022 draft from the University of Georgia.
It’s likely Salyer will be the swing lineman, moving from side to side to fill in for the others because of injuries or lackluster play. It’s also possible Alt could fill that role when the season begins, but judging by the first six days of training camp and the past two in pads, that would seem to be a less likely scenario.
Not that the Chargers don’t have faith in Alt’s versatility.
They do.
“You’ve got to be able to play both sides,” Roman said. “Some guys struggle with one more than the other. Obviously, he’s played more left (tackle while at Notre Dame), so he’s a little more comfortable in his stance. ‘Hey, Joe, you’re playing right.’ He gets in his stance and we’re playing football.
“You’ve got to love the linemen who don’t make a big deal out of it. It’s not like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’ve got to move over to the left side.’ You’ve got to work at it and train your muscle memory and whatnot. He’s excited about it. Flexibility is huge. There can be a bunch of different scenarios and you better be prepared for any eventuality. We’re really excited about his versatility and he doesn’t even blink. ‘Joe, you’re playing right (tackle).’ It’s football. You’re working on both sides. It’s great to have that flexibility.”
SALYER INJURED
Midway through the Chargers’ two-hour practice, Salyer fell to the ground during a play in which quarterback Justin Herbert stepped up in the pocket and threw a touchdown pass to Josh Palmer during an 11-on-11 drill. The nature and extent of Salyer’s injury were not immediately known.
Salyer remained on the grass for roughly two minutes while athletic trainers attended to him. In time, he got to his feet and performed several blocking drills before walking slowly to the training room inside the facility. He did not return to the field for the remainder of the practice and his status was unknown.
Teams are not required to give injury updates until Week 1.
EXTRA POINTS
Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson addressed the Chargers before Tuesday’s practice. … Backup quarterback Easton Stick joined Herbert as the only players to wear yellow practice jerseys. … Running back Gus Edwards participated in some team drills. He had been limited to individual drills to start camp. … Junior Colson, a rookie linebacker from Michigan, passed his physical after undergoing an appendectomy during the offseason. He was listed on the active/non-football illness list for the first six days of camp.