Rashawn Slater Setback, Chargers' Fantasy Dilemmas and Joe Alt Shines to Start Week 3

The Chargers start week three with a walkthrough. See what we learned and the concerns heading into the first preseason game.

Oct 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater (70) following the win over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Week 3 of 2026 training camp has started for the Los Angeles Chargers with their first game on the horizon. The Chargers will face the Houston Texans at 5 p.m. on Thursday night to kick off the preseason games.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said about 15 of the veterans will warm up with the team but will not play in the first game. None of the regular starters are expected to play in the first preseason matchup.

The Chargers released their first unofficial depth chart following their Sunday practice to wrap up week two which had a few interesting takeaways but overall serves as what to expect for Thursday night's lineup and position rotations.

Los Angeles started their third week of camp with a light walkthrough after a weekend of padded practices. Since it was a walkthrough on Monday, there are no significant highlights from the practice. Let's take a look at noteworthy news from the Mike McDaniel's press conference as well as some lineup questions from practice plus a pair of roster moves to start the week.

How big of a setback did Rashawn Slater suffer?

Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater is returning from a devastating ruptured patellar tendon which he suffered just days into his return to the field in training camp of 2025. The timing of his return was always subject to some management by the coaching and training staff.

Slater gave everyone a scare last week during the first padded practice of training camp. He left practice and headed to the injury tent and the NFL world breathed a sigh of relief when he was spotted back on the sidelines and participating in conditioning drills.

Slater participated is practice in the days following the scare but has now missed three practices in a row. Slater did not participate in padded practices over the weekend and he did not participate in walk-throughs on Monday. The team will stay tight-lipped about his health but it is clear that he is experiencing something that is causing to to take a step back at let it rest.

At the moment, Slater's absence can simply be chalked up to soreness in his surgically repaired knee which missing two padded practices makes sense including the start of game week for walk-throughs in a game there is not way he will play in. It is obvious Slater suffered some sort of setback that is being managed and the situation is worth monitoring going forward. At the very least, this gives the Chargers a chance to rotate through multiple options at left tackle to be better prepared if Slater has to miss any time or even if he is not ready to start the season.

Mike McDaniel praises Joe Alt but crushes fantasy owners

Jul 31, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel during training camp press conference at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel took the podium after practice today and gave massive praise to right tackle Joe Alt for successfully setting up and blocking Khalil Mack on a screen play. Mack apparently has been making it impossible for the offense to run a screen to his side so far in camp.

McDaniel also faced a question regarding the running backs and how the roles will be handled. He jokingly responded that he felt the question was rooted in fantasy football.

"Bad news, fantasy owners. Good news is I see all three of those guys producing at a very high level," McDaniel said, "Bad news is I can’t tell you which games those are.” He went on to say, "I'll use all three of those guys probably every game. The relative ratio, that will be based on opponent."

Omarion Hampton is widely considered a fantasy breakout in waiting and has been going very high in redraft leagues. Figuring out where to draft Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal will be much more difficult to value.

Chargers roster moves

The Chargers have made a roster move to start the week.

we've signed OLB andre carter + waived WR mante’ morrow pic.twitter.com/HvP5FBOdEl

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 10, 2026

The Chargers released wide receiver Mante Morrow, who was signed as an undrafted free agent after a rookie minicamp tryout but has been unable to practice. In his place, Los Angeles signed former Army star edge rusher Andre Carter. Carter was a highly productive player at West Point who was once considered a potential early-round draft pick but ultimately went undrafted after a poor pre-draft process.

Carter has had several years in the NFL bouncing around practice squads but also plenty of time to build up his size and strength. He had a stint with Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins last season and is likely depth to bolster the edge room for preseason.