Chargers training camp update: Offensive line shuffle after Biadasz injury puts Slaughter at center and tests depth

The Chargers’ Week 3 of training camp work hit a key moving part on Saturday as the team continued assembling its offensive line rotation, this time with the interior reshaped after Tyler Biadasz suffered an injury. In the team’s training camp report, the organization described an immediate response on the practice field, emphasizing how quickly the offensive line unit had to reorganize its structure to keep the reps flowing for the quarterback.

Rashawn Slater, the Chargers’ long-time starting-caliber piece on the offensive line, returned to practice during the Day 17 session. That return matters because Slater’s role typically anchors communication and stability at the position, and camp is one of the few windows where a quarterback like Justin Herbert benefits from extended continuity with the same core group before the regular season compresses practice time.

While Slater was back, the center spot saw a different look. The Chargers reported that Jake Slaughter was at center during work in front of Herbert, a change that shifts both the snapping rhythm and the protection calls that come from the middle of the line. In practical terms, camp reps at center are not interchangeable, because the cadence and read structure used in pass protection require repetition and timing that usually develop through consistent reps week-to-week.

The Day 17 update also framed the team’s priority as getting back to work quickly, reflecting how training camp is managed when bumps happen. Saturday’s practice was described as an effort to resume offensive line development, with the Chargers “eager to get back work,” indicating a focus on restoring the flow of installation and timing drills even as personnel changes occur.

Biadasz’s injury is the root of the adjustment, and the Chargers’ plan for the interior will shape how confident the team can be in depth at multiple positions. If a starting-caliber player is out, the coaching staff often looks for a combination of technical readiness and mental command, especially at center, where protections and line calls are frequently built from the middle of the front.

Herbert’s involvement in the report gives the session an additional layer of importance. The quarterback’s comfort in the pocket depends on the offensive line’s ability to create a stable pocket and to execute pass sets that match the play design. When the interior configuration changes, quarterbacks can see it in protection angles, footwork synchronization, and whether the line is getting the necessary leverage in the first step.

Going forward, the immediate question is how the Chargers continue to map roles for Slaughter and what the staff learns from watching Slater and the rest of the line operate together after the disruption. For fans, the most telling signs will come from subsequent practices: whether the center reps remain consistent, whether the first-team interior returns to its typical alignment, and how quickly the group looks coordinated in pass protection as camp moves deeper into its later days.