Chargers GM drops huge update on injured duo originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Chargers' offensive line took a beating injury-wise last season, as both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater were bitten by the injury bug.Slater suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon, while Alt suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9, leaving the Chargers with no star bookend tackles. That's problematic.As such, Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times, the third-most in football last season, and the hope is that both Slater and Alt will be on the field for the duration of the 2026 season.And for general manager Joe Hortiz, he stated that the pair are ahead of schedule, and gave an update on the two start tackles."Whenever I look out there and see those two out there, I feel confident," Hortiz said via ESPN.More:Chargers GM reveals reason for low-spending free agency planChargers hoping for injury luck in 2026And that likely starts with Alt and Slater, right?Getting your starting tackles back is a big deal, but you have to make sure they stay back as well.Given how long the pair have been out for, I'd imagine the Chargers will ease them back into the swing of things this offseason, as the last thing L.A. wants is for both to break down again.So, it will be slow and steady for Alt and Slater, two players who will carry the franchise's hopes, at least on offense under Mike McDaniel, because Herbert isn't protected, well, we saw what happened last season, didn't we?More NFL news:Buccaneers could have big Baker Mayfield problem in 2026Steelers still unsure of Aaron Rodgers return timeline?ESPN reveals why Giants dealt Dexter Lawrence to BengalsCould Ravens make history in NFL Draft?Analyst offers interesting QB name for Steelers to draft