Chiefs rookie is giving Chargers fans real hope for Rashawn Slater

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.

There is one beacon of hope that is providing Chargers fans a light at the end of the tunnel and it's relatively close to home. Back in April, the Kansas City Chiefs took a chance and selected offensive tackle Josh Simmons at the end of the first round. Simmons' stock fell after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in October.

You'd have no idea that he suffered such a significant injury 10 months ago by how he has looked at Chiefs training camp.

Chiefs' Josh Simmons is giving Chargers fans real hope for Rashawn Slater

The reviews of Simmons from Chiefs training camp have been nothing but great. On one hand, it's annoying for Chargers fans that the Chiefs seemingly did it again and landed a great player late in the first round. On the other hand, Simmons is a direct source of inspiration for Slater.

The timeline of the recovery is very important to note. There were questions about whether or not Simmons would even be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 season. All signs are pointing to Simmons being ready, which would be just 11 months after his initially suffered the injury.

If Slater were to follow a similar timeline then he would be ready for the start of the 2026 season. However, Chargers fans should not outright expect that to be the reality. There is a long road to recovery ahead.

More importantly than Simmons' availability is how he has looked during training camp. Barring an extreme, unforeseen setback, Slater will play in the NFL again. And it will be for the Chargers. The question isn't if he will ever suit up again, it's if he will be the same person once he returns.

While Simmons hasn't played an NFL snap yet, his reps during Chiefs training camp are proving that he can still produce at his best. The hope is that Slater can follow suit and pick up where he left off as one of the best tackles in the entire sport.

Every injury is different and Slater will have a different recovery process than Simmons. But as the 2025 season unfolds, Chargers fans can at least get some hope based on how well Simmons plays in his rookie campaign.