SAO PAULO, Brazil (Sept. 5, 2025) — With Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater sidelined for the season after tearing his patellar tendon, the Los Angeles Chargers are turning to Trey Pipkins III to help stabilize their offensive line. The shift adds weight to Pipkins’ role, as he becomes a central figure in maintaining the team’s protection schemes and offensive rhythm.
Pipkins, a third-round draft pick in 2019, has built his career on versatility. He has made more than 50 starts across multiple positions, spending time at right tackle and right guard. Now, with rookie Joe Alt moving to left tackle to replace Slater, Pipkins takes over at right tackle in a lineup that also features Zion Johnson and Mekhi Becton at guard, Bradley Bozeman at center, and Alt on the blind side.
For head coach Jim Harbaugh, the shuffle underscores the importance of depth and adaptability. Pipkins’ presence allows the Chargers to keep a balance across the line rather than scrambling for emergency solutions. The team also added veteran David Sharpe for depth, but Pipkins’ experience makes him the cornerstone of this adjustment.
The challenge ahead is steep. Slater’s consistency and reliability made him one of the league’s top young tackles, and losing him leaves a gap that cannot be fully replaced. Pipkins will face high expectations, particularly in protecting quarterback Justin Herbert from elite pass rushers in the AFC West. His ability to set the edge in the run game and hold ground in pass protection will be tested immediately.
The Chargers’ decision to retain Pipkins in recent offseasons now looks prescient. While his performance has sometimes been average by advanced grading metrics, his adaptability has become invaluable. Few linemen in the league can slide between positions effectively, and that flexibility is paying off at a critical moment.
Harbaugh’s system relies on physical, disciplined line play, and Pipkins’ role will be central to keeping the offense on schedule. With the Chargers aiming to contend in a competitive division, his success at right tackle could be the difference between staying in the playoff race or falling behind early.
For Pipkins, this opportunity is more than a stopgap measure. It is a chance to solidify his standing as a dependable starter on a team with postseason aspirations. His performance over the coming weeks will shape not just the Chargers’ fortunes, but also his long-term future with the franchise.
