For once, it isn’t the New York Giants dealing with an offensive line crisis. While Big Blue's front has quietly become semi-reliable, the Los Angeles Chargers just lost one of their cornerstones. According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, second-year offensive tackle Joe Alt will miss the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery — a crushing blow to a team already down star left tackle Rashawn Slater.
Joe Alt will undergo season-ending ankle surgery, the #Chargers announce.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) November 3, 2025
Alt’s injury leaves Bolts quarterback Justin Herbert exposed behind a patchwork line that’s losing bodies faster than the Giants blow leads. Los Angeles is 6-3 and clinging to playoff hopes, but both starting tackles are gone, and Slater is working his way back from a torn patellar tendon.
The Chargers need help like a fish needs water, which is where the G-Men can do their best any port in a storm impression. You see, there’s this 6-foot-7, 340-pound reminder collecting dust on their bench whose move out west might actually make sense for both parties.
Giants might finally have an Evan Neal trade partner after Joe Alt injury update
Evan Neal, I hope you know how to surf. Neal's time in New York has run its course. The former No. 7 overall pick hasn’t played a single snap this season and hasn’t justified a roster spot for years.
Once billed as the long-term answer at right tackle, he couldn’t secure that job, then couldn’t stick at guard either, and now sits buried on the 53-man roster with no legitimate role.
Still, Neal’s size and draft pedigree likely carry some intrigue, especially for a team in desperation mode. Los Angeles doesn’t exactly need an All-Pro — they need someone who’s healthy, experienced, and available. The G-Men clearly don’t have a role for the 25-year-old, which makes this the rare situation where both teams can get what they want: LA gets a stopgap, New York gets cap space and an asset.
Related: Giants could finally cut ties with flailing draft pick amid trade rumors
General Manager Joe Schoen has done a terrible job of wasting time, sitting on a Neal deal. Now with Alt sidelined and the Bolts running out of options, he has another chance to fix that mistake. It’s time to bust out the 'ole Rolodex.
If the Giants can turn a forgotten tackle into a late-round pick and a cleared roster spot, that's a massive win. Perhaps it's the catalyst for some moves that can finally help out rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart. Wouldn't that be nice?