Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has spent much of the 2026 season operating under constant duress, and the impending return of right tackle Joe Alt offers one of the clearest paths toward relief.
Alt, the 2024 first-round pick, has missed recent games with a neck injury sustained in a Week 4 collision against the Seattle Seahawks.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Alt visited a specialist this week and received encouraging news. He is expected to ramp up activity, with a return to the field approaching.
For Herbert, the timing matters. The Chargers enter Week 6 at 0-5, and their offense ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring and passing production.
Herbert has been sacked 17 times through five games while completing under 60 percent of his passes and throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. Much of that pressure traces to an offensive line depleted by injuries.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater remains sidelined after ankle surgery, and the unit has frequently featured multiple rookies alongside veteran guard Cole Strange.
The result has been a pocket that collapses too quickly for a quarterback who thrives when he can set his feet and survey the field.
Alt’s presence changes the math. When healthy earlier this season, he allowed just three pressures on roughly 130 pass-blocking snaps and posted strong Pro Football Focus marks in both pass and run blocking.
His length, athleticism, and technique have made him one of the more reliable edge protectors on a young Chargers roster. In his absence, the right side of the line has been handled by rookies, exposing Herbert to edge rushers who can force hurried throws or take him down before routes develop.
Restoring Alt at right tackle does not instantly fix every issue—Slater’s status and interior questions remain—but it reestablishes a high-level bookend who has already shown he can limit pressure at an elite rate.
The specialist’s positive report also reduces the risk of a longer absence. Neck injuries can be unpredictable, and the Chargers wisely avoided an immediate injured-reserve designation.
With a bye week approaching in Week 7, the ramp-up period gives Alt a chance to rebuild conditioning without rushing him back into a game.
Herbert, who has absorbed hits while trying to extend plays behind the makeshift line, stands to benefit most from that extra time. A healthier tackle pair would allow the offense to protect the quarterback on deeper drops and create cleaner windows for receivers who have also dealt with their own absences.
None of this guarantees an immediate turnaround for a winless team still sorting through scheme adjustments under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Yet for a franchise that has repeatedly watched its star quarterback absorb punishment when the tackles go down, Alt’s progress represents tangible improvement.
Herbert has the arm talent and mobility to elevate the group once the pocket stabilizes. Getting one of the league’s better young tackles back on the field is a necessary first step toward giving him that chance.
