EL SEGUNDO — Joe Alt didn’t seem concerned about flipping sides of the offensive line when asked about it before the Chargers faced the Kansas City Chiefs last Friday night in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Alt had played left tackle at Notre Dame before switching to right tackle as an NFL rookie last season.
So, it wasn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for him.
Quarterback Justin Herbert also said he wasn’t the least bit worried about Alt shifting into the starting spot held with great distinction by Rashawn Slater for the past four seasons. Herbert knew his all-important blind-side protection was in capable hands even though Slater was sidelined by a knee injury.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said he had watched Alt on a video of a game last season and didn’t recognize the Chargers’ first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “Who was that high schooler?” Roman wondered, perhaps exaggerating the growth and maturity of Alt over the past 12 months.
In the end, the Chargers had zero reason to worry about Alt’s play in place of Slater in their season-opening, 27-21 victory over the Chiefs. As someone on social media so aptly put it, Alt pitched a no-hitter. As in, Alt didn’t allow a single Chiefs defender to put his hands on Herbert.
“Pretty darn impressive,” Roman said Thursday. “Pretty darn impressive.”
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh put it this way, “I guess he’s never played a perfect game, but it was close. You know, it was really close. You know, I’ve been saying that as well as Joe played last year, he may be our most improved player this season, and it showed (against the Chiefs).”
Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns, piloting the Chargers to their first victory over their AFC West rivals in eight games. Herbert didn’t throw an interception and was sacked only three times for a total of 14 yards in losses. He wasn’t often hurried or harried, thanks in large part to Alt.
“He’s got that 330-pound man strength,” Roman said of Alt’s transformation since the start of last season. “He’s just big, strong, physical. He’s a different cat. I thought he played really well. He’s very critical of himself, very self aware, and I expect huge things from him. This guy’s a lockdown All-Pro.
“He’s just got to keep working at it day-to-day. He’s got the right stuff, you know? Across the board. He’s become a great leader for us, too.”
Alt was named one of three offensive captains in voting by his teammates.
Week 1 is history, though. Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ defense are the next challenge for Alt and the Chargers, a showdown on “Monday Night Football” in Las Vegas.
POSTGAME PRAISE
When the Chargers were on the bus early Saturday morning from Corinthians Arena to the Sao Paulo airport for their trip home, Harbaugh approached Roman to congratulate him on his play-calling during their victory over the Chiefs, when it all seemed to fall into place so seamlessly.
“You know, he’s had some great games as a play caller, as a game planner, as an offensive coordinator, but I would put this one at the very top,” Harbaugh told reporters earlier this week. “Maybe none better. Some on the same plane as this game, but none higher. I thought it was just a great performance.
“Keeping things off balance, keeping things timely on third downs. A lot of credit to Greg Roman for the plays called and the players executing. We were 8 for 14 (on late-down conversions), if you count the fourth down (conversion on a run by Omarion Hampton in the third quarter), and very timely pickups.”
