The Los Angeles Chargers signed center Tyler Biadasz to a three-year, $30 million deal before free agency even opened this offseason. They needed him. Their offensive line in 2025 was one of the worst in the league, and Biadasz, a former Pro Bowler still only 28 years old, was supposed to anchor the middle of a rebuilt unit.
That plan may already be in serious trouble. According to CBS Sports, Biadasz suffered a left leg injury Tuesday during joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers when 49ers defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez fell on his left knee. Biadasz could not put any weight on the leg and was carted off the field.
Quarterback Justin Herbert addressed reporters after practice. "I don't know exactly what happened but hoping for the best for him," he said.
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston also left practice with what appeared to be a lower-body injury after trying to come down with a contested catch, adding to an already difficult afternoon for Los Angeles.
The Chargers have second-round rookie Jake Slaughter as a backup option at center, but placing that responsibility on a first-year player is a significant ask. The team this offseason installed highly coveted offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose system depends heavily on pre-snap motion and wide zone running. Both demand precise coordination between the quarterback and center, and between linemen moving in sync across the field.
The offensive line was a central priority all offseason for a reason. Left tackle Rashawn Slater missed all of last season with a knee injury that came days after he signed the richest contract for an offensive lineman in NFL history. Right tackle Joe Alt missed most of the year with a high ankle sprain. Things were no better on the interior. Justin Herbert faced quick pressure, defined as within 2.5 seconds, on 177 dropbacks. No other quarterback faced more than 150.
The Chargers responded by clearing out most of the group responsible for those numbers. Salyer, Hart, Deculus, Johnson, Becton, and Bozeman are all gone. In their place, the team brought in veterans Biadasz, Kayode Awosika, and Cole Strange, along with a wave of rookie linemen including Slaughter, Travis Burke, Logan Taylor, and Alex Harkey.
The returns of Slater and Alt were expected to provide the biggest upgrade. But the interior still needed to hold. With Biadasz now hurt before the regular season begins, that question becomes considerably more complicated for a team counting on McDaniel's offense to deliver results in 2026.