Star Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon in practice Thursday, the team said.

Slater will undergo surgery and will be placed on injured reserve.

The Pro Bowl tackle had started blocking outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu during a team drill Thursday, but he began collapsing before Tuipulotu rushed him and immediately grabbed his left leg. Slater was down with an athletic trainer for a few minutes as safety Derwin James Jr . and Denzel Perryman prayed. Eventually, Slater, unable to put weight on the leg, was helped to his feet by trainers and teammates.

It's a massive loss for the Chargers ahead of Week 1. Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman predicate their offenses on dominant rushing attacks, and becau

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