The silence from the practice field at Hoag Performance Center is deceptive. For the Los Angeles Chargers, the offseason is a period of healing, evaluation, and building the fringes of the roster. Here are the latest updates on players working their way back and those just getting their foot in the door.
Injury Rehabilitation Front With no games to prepare for, the focus for several key Chargers is solely on recovery. The most significant rehab projects involve the offensive line's bookends:
- OT Joe Alt: The 2025 starting tackle is deep into his rehabilitation program for an ankle injury that ended his season. All reports indicate his recovery is on track, with the expectation he will be fully cleared for football activities well before the start of training camp for the 2026 season. His health is paramount to the O-line's stability.
- OT Rashawn Slater: Slater is progressing in his recovery from a patellar tendon injury. Patellar tendon rehab is a meticulous process, but the Chargers' medical staff is reportedly encouraged by his work. The goal is a return to form, which would give the Chargers a potentially elite pair of tackles for 2026.
There has been no new official information on other players who ended the season on injured reserve. The organization has not provided an update on the social media reports from January 20 regarding safety Derwin James and a potential head injury evaluation.
Building the 90-Man Roster: Reserve/Future Signings On January 13, 2026, the Chargers began constructing their offseason roster by signing 14 players to reserve/future contracts. These agreements allow the team to retain the rights to these players, who will be part of the 90-man offseason roster and compete for a spot in training camp. Notable names from this group include:
- WR Dalevon Campbell (South Carolina): A big-bodied receiver who will look to impress the new offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel.
- WR Luke Grimm (Kansas): A productive college player who will add depth to the receiver room.
- DL TeRah Edwards (Illinois): A defensive lineman who will get a chance to compete in the trenches.
These signings are standard offseason procedure. They represent low-risk, high-reward opportunities to uncover talent. Many of these players spent time on the Chargers' practice squad in 2025, giving them a slight familiarity advantage. For the Chargers' scouts and coaches, the offseason program and preseason will be an extended audition for these athletes to prove they belong in the NFL.
The Road to 2026 The path to September starts now in the training room and on the practice fields with these young hopefuls. The health of Alt and Slater is a storyline that will dominate the spring, while the development of reserve/future signees could uncover the next diamond in the rough. The offseason grind, though less glamorous, is where foundational depth is built.