Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury at LA Chargers training camp on Thursday and it was the worst injury imaginable: a torn patellar tendon. The return rate from these injuries is low and it's the same injury that derailed J.C. Jackson's career (at the same age as Slater).
A torn ACL would have been one thing. Sure, Slater still would have missed the 2025 season, but the long-term concerns around his knee would not have been as pressing. A torn patellar is a different story as all Chargers fans can do is hope he returns to form and brace for the worst.