Rashawn Slater's knee injury ends his 2025 season, forcing Los Angeles to pivot on the offensive line and protect Justin Herbert without sacrificing the offense’s tempo. Joe Alt shifts to left tackle from right, with Trey Pipkins sliding into a flexible role, while coaches explore heavy-formation concepts to keep Herbert clean early in the schedule. The Ravens’ Pancake Pat blueprint and Greg Roman’s front-boost ideas surface as a potential template for adding depth and versatility up front. Denver tests the new approach quickly, making early-season protection a critical fantasy lever.

On the other side, the update tees up big-picture implications: Alt’s left-side acclimation will matter for pass protection and run design, Herbert’s target distribution could shift if the pocket stabilizes, and backups must demonstrate competence in real games. The silver linings include expanded roles for swing linemen and the potential for Schemes like Ricard-style blocking to create favorable matchups. Fantasy managers should watch how Alt, Pipkins, and the added blockers hold up and which receivers benefit when the protection holds, particularly Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston.