Tyler Biadasz Sustains ACL Damage During Chargers Joint Practice Session

Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz is sidelined indefinitely after suffering ACL damage and left knee injuries during an 11-on-11 drill on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz is sidelined indefinitely following a diagnosis of ACL damage and additional left knee trauma. The 28-year-old veteran sustained the injury at 01:53 PM ET during a Tuesday afternoon joint practice session with the San Francisco 49ers. The incident occurred during an 11-on-11 drill when 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez lost his footing and fell directly into the center's lower left leg. Biadasz remained prone on the turf for approximately five minutes while receiving attention from the organization's medical staff before being transported off the field via a motorized cart.

Key details

Diagnostic imaging performed on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, confirmed the severity of the ligament damage. Sources relayed the MRI results to ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, noting that the player will seek consultations with orthopedic specialists to determine if surgical intervention is required. This medical setback occurs just 48 hours before the Chargers are scheduled to host the 49ers for their second preseason exhibition game this Thursday. The team has not yet established a definitive recovery timeline for the former Pro Bowl selection.

General manager Joe Hortiz prioritized the acquisition of Biadasz in March to anchor a revamped interior offensive line. The center arrived in Los Angeles after a tenure with the Washington Commanders, where he started 31 contests across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Washington had previously released the lineman in February as a salary-cap maneuver. His presence was intended to provide veteran leadership for a front five that underwent significant personnel changes during the most recent offseason cycle.

Latest developments

Biadasz entered the professional ranks as a fourth-round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft. During his four-year stay in Texas, he participated in 49 games and secured a starting role in every appearance. His statistical peak occurred during the 2022 campaign, a season that culminated in his first career Pro Bowl invitation. Throughout his professional journey, the Wisconsin product has accumulated 80 total starts, demonstrating high durability until this recent practice collision.

The loss of the starting center creates an immediate vacancy in the middle of the Chargers' offensive formation. Head coach Jim Harbaugh must now evaluate depth options including backup interior linemen to fill the void left by the 315-pound veteran. The timing of the injury is particularly difficult as the coaching staff was in the process of finalizing the primary blocking schemes for the upcoming regular season opener. The team’s medical department will continue to monitor the secondary injuries to the left knee to ensure no other structural components were compromised during the fall.

Further updates regarding the center's status are expected following his meetings with external medical experts. The Chargers' front office may be forced to explore the free-agent market or trade possibilities to bolster the position if the ACL damage results in a season-ending designation. For now, the focus remains on the immediate recovery protocols and the adjustment of the depth chart for the remaining preseason schedule. The franchise has not yet placed Biadasz on the injured reserve list, pending the final surgical recommendations from the consulting physicians.