The Los Angeles Chargers did their job this week, beating the Titans 27-20 to stay in second place in the AFC West. With Kansas City losing to Buffalo, the Chargers gained some ground, but it’s still been an up-and-down season for Justin Herbert and the team. And on Monday, Herbert received both good and bad news.

Let’s start with the positive. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said right guard Mekhi Becton is expected to return to practice this week. “We’ll see how the week of practice goes,” he said. That’s welcome news for Herbert, who’s been under siege behind a banged-up offensive line all year. But it’s also bittersweet, because the Chargers will now be without tackle Joe Alt for the rest of the season.

Alt injured his ankle in Week 4 against the Giants, missed time, then came back in Week 8 for the win over the Vikings. He played again against Tennessee, but late in the second quarter, he went down after a Titans lineman rolled up on his leg from behind. He was carted off and didn’t return.

On Monday, head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Alt will have season-ending ankle surgery. “I feel bad for Joe, and I know it’s going to be OK,” he said. Injuries have been a constant theme for this team, especially up front. Alt had shifted from right tackle to left after Rashawn Slater tore his patellar tendon during practice back in August.

Alt’s rookie season had given the Chargers plenty to be optimistic about, and expectations were high heading into this year. Now, that progress is on hold. The silver lining is that Becton’s return could help stabilize things. His year has been dysfunctional. He missed most of camp dealing with what he called “nagging” knee issues.

He battled a concussion, a hand injury, and then another knee problem during the Week 8 win in Minnesota. Harbaugh is hoping this week marks the start of a steadier stretch for him. And for a line that’s been patched together for most of the season. And Jim Harbaugh had some news about the new-look offensive tackles.

Jim Harbaugh’s new-look OL

So, Joe Alt is officially done for the year, and on top of that, veteran tackle Bobby Hart left Sunday’s game with groin and ankle injuries. Jim Harbaugh said he doesn’t expect Hart to land on injured reserve, but all signs point to him missing a few weeks. With that, Harbaugh has already mapped out what the tackle situation will look like moving forward.

“Our tackles moving forward are Trey Pipkins, Austin Deculus, Jamaree Salyer, Foster Sarell has flexibility out there as well,” he said. Salyer filled in at left tackle after Alt went down, and Hart’s exit in the first quarter brought Pipkins III into the game on the right side.

They did hold up against the Titans this week. “It played out in the game and you saw how the guys responded. That’s something about our team that I really admire. There was a lot to overcome in that game Sunday, and our guys found a way and overcame it,” Harbaugh said.

The Chargers did what they had to and came away with a win. But the numbers show how thin the margin is right now. Justin Herbert was sacked six times and pressured throughout the night. The offense found ways to move the ball, but Herbert’s been taking far too many hits lately.

This newly formed OL has potential, but they need to improve fast if they want to make a genuine run in the playoffs.