Locked Chargers lead back in Mike McDaniel's first year as OC.
The bookend tackles missed most/all of 2025 and are the upgrade. Biadasz — the interior they signed — tore his ACL this week and is likely out. ADP already had the tackles; the center hole is the new news. Hold.
This hit after the 8/18 ADP pull.
- 2026-08-19 · Tyler Biadasz ACL vs SF — out indefinitely
- ADP
- 2.04 (16.4)
- Target
- 2.04
- Move
- 0
- As of
- 2026-08-25
What changed
7 real changes. The rest held.
Run blocking
Was Same depleted tackles; interior was the weak spot
Now Tackles back — the zone-run upgrade. Center Tyler Biadasz (signed this spring) tore his ACL Aug 18 vs SF. Harbaugh: doesn't look promising as season-ending. Rookie Jake Slaughter is in.
Alt/Slater healthy is a real upgrade for Hampton. Biadasz was the interior they signed and is likely done. Both things are true.
Pass blocking
Was Slater 0 snaps (torn patellar); Alt 6 games then ankle
Now LT Rashawn Slater and RT Joe Alt both medically cleared. Slater is being managed for Week 1 after a knee flare-up. LG Kayode Awosika leading a camp battle. RG Cole Strange.
The Pro Bowl tackles missed most/all of 2025 and are back. That is the pass-block story — not McDaniel.
Backfield
Was Omarion Hampton featured as a rookie behind a wrecked tackle pair
Now Hampton still the lead; Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal the change package
Role is intact. The line in front of him is what moved.
Play caller
Was Greg Roman (fired)
Now Mike McDaniel (hired as OC)
McDaniel's quick game and motion is a stylistic 180 from Roman.
Scheme & pace
Was Roman 2025 ~63% pass, heavier play-action/under center
Now McDaniel catch-and-run, quicker footwork, ~57% pass
Ladd McConkey's short-area usage is the WR fit.
Pass catchers
Was McConkey plus the room
Now McDaniel loves YAC WRs
Short-area target share should rise.
Tight end
Was 2025 TE room
Now David Njoku signed; McDaniel TEs are complementary
Njoku is a name, not a 12-personnel shop by default.
Continuity
Quarterback
Was Justin Herbert
Now Justin Herbert
Locked starter.
Head coach
Was Jim Harbaugh
Now Jim Harbaugh
HC stays; the offense does not.
Team environment
Was Harbaugh year two
Now AFC West slog
Competitive scripts.
Vacated volume
- Targets
- —
- Carries
- —
- Red zone
- —
- Air yards
- —
No high-confidence vacated-volume number published. Role change matters more than a target count.
Competition added
No meaningful new competition sourced.
This player
- Projected role
- Locked Chargers lead back in Mike McDaniel's first year as OC.
- Usage
- McDaniel's zone run is the scheme. The line in front of him is the story — tackles back, center likely gone.
- Injury
- Healthy heading into 2026 after a rookie year behind a wrecked tackle pair.
- Contract
- Year-two lead back. Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are the committee, not a timeshare wipe.
- Camp
- Alt and Slater opened camp medically cleared (Harbaugh). Slater is being managed for Week 1 after a knee flare-up. Biadasz carted off Aug 18 vs SF.
Upside
Rashawn Slater missed all of 2025 (torn patellar). Joe Alt played six games then an ankle. Both are healthy. That is the upgrade.
Downside
Tyler Biadasz, signed this spring to stabilize center, tore his ACL Aug 18. Harbaugh (Aug 21): doesn't look promising as season-ending. Rookie Jake Slaughter is in.
Risks
- Biadasz ACL — out indefinitely, likely done for 2026. Interior run blocking is now a rookie center.high
- Slater is being managed to Week 1 after a camp flare-up on the repaired knee.medium
- Keaton Mitchell / Kimani Vidal are real change-of-pace options if the interior stalls.low
Sources
No source URLs were returned with this brief.
Notes come from the 2026 coaching and roster board (team sites, NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic). Hold is the default when ADP already has the news.