EL SEGUNDO — Veteran center Tyler Biadasz snapped the ball to Justin Herbert, moved into position to begin blocking for the quarterback and then, suddenly, he was on his back, on the ground, and in obvious pain during an 11-on-11 drill during the Chargers’ joint practice Tuesday with the San Francisco 49ers.
A teammate and an opponent had crashed into him, knocking him to the grass.
Soon enough, Biadasz was carted from the field with an apparent left leg injury and taken inside the Chargers’ practice facility to be examined by medical personnel. The severity of his injury wasn’t immediately known. Coach Jim Harbaugh was unavailable for post-practice comment.
Harbaugh spoke to reporters beforehand, as is his custom.
Jake Slaughter, a second-round draft pick from the University of Florida who has been locked in a training camp battle for the starting left guard position, replaced Biadasz for the remainder of the joint practice, joining the unit blocking for Herbert. Slaughter played center while at Florida.
“He’s been nothing but a wonderful mentor,” Slaughter said of Biadasz, entering his seventh NFL season after spending the past two seasons with the Washington Commanders and the previous four with the Dallas Cowboys. “He’s been a leader in our room, helping me out, helping me see the big picture. We just hope and pray that he’s in a good spot and it’s nothing too serious.”
The Chargers signed Biadasz to a three-season, $30 million contract after the Commanders released him in the offseason for financial reasons. Biadasz, 28, was a Pro Bowl selection after the 2022 season, while with the Dallas Cowboys, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2020.
General Manager Joe Hortiz signed Biadasz as part of his overhaul of the interior of the offensive line, after left guard Zion Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns, center Bradley Bozeman retired and right guard Mekhi Becton was released after one season.
“Obviously, you pray for the best,” Herbert said. “I don’t know exactly what happened, and I haven’t heard back. I’m hoping for the best.”
Herbert praised Slaughter’s play after shifting into Biadasz’s spot.
“I thought he did great, to be able to step in as quickly as he did,” Herbert said. “He’s got a great feel for the offense, moves quickly, is a great pass protector. Obviously, a tough situation, you know, but I thought he did a great job moving over there (to replace Biadasz).”
The scene, as Biadasz was carted from the field, was eerily similar to Aug. 7, 2025, when left tackle Rashawn Slater sustained a torn patellar tendon and was forced to sit out all of the ’25 season. Slater sat out of his eighth practice in a row on Tuesday because of a setback suffered in a practice on Aug. 4 at the University of San Diego.
Trey Pipkins III has assumed Slater’s position since Slater has been out.
O-LINE (PART 2)
The ongoing training camp battle to become the Chargers’ starting left guard continues to go on and on and on, apparently with no resolution in sight. Harbaugh’s deadline for the end of the competition has come and gone this week and five linemen remain in contention.
At least that was Harbaugh’s story before the joint practice. He did allow that there was a paradigm shift, although it seemed the battle was more status quo than anything that could be considered a dramatic change from the start of camp July 29.
Harbaugh said the Chargers’ projected starting offensive and defensive units, including Herbert, would play one series in their preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. He declined to say who would be the starting left guard in the game, though.
“I don’t have the urgency that you do in naming a starter,” Harbaugh said. “But I’m as excited as heck about the competition.”
The battle started with Slaughter, Pipkins, Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning and Branson Taylor locked in competition for the job. Little has changed, according to Harbaugh, although Awosika has taken more reps on the line in front of Herbert than anyone else in recent practices.
“I would say, in my mind, there are five guys in the competition and I would lose money if I bet against three of them,” said Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who declined to name the three he wouldn’t bet against. “So, it’s still open, but things are starting to take shape.”
EXTRA POINTS
Running back Omarion Hampton bowled over one 49ers defender and then another during one particularly impressive sequence of plays, drawing cheers from his teammates and coaches standing on the sideline. … Outside linebacker Kyle Kennard and wide receiver Quentin Johnston each were forced from the field because of undetermined injuries.