Joe Alt holds his own during first Chargers padded training camp practice

The Los Angeles Chargers held their first padded training camp practice of the offseason, which means all eyes were on rookie first-round selection Joe Alt.

He had an excellent (though imperfect) debut.

One-on-one reps

Per on-field reporter Steven Haglund, Alt had two reps against Joey Bosa in one-on-one drills. Both ended in a stalemate, which is truly a win for the offensive lineman.

11-on-11 reps

Alt was one of the safest prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft because of his inventory of tactics to win, recover, and counter. Each was on display today as Alt switched from left to right tackle. Alt showed off varied strike timing to keep rushers off their marks and was able to adjust and anchor down if needed. He was routinely in control of his set and washed rushers outside and away from Justin Herbert.

There seemed to only be one true loss: A third-down rep at right tackle where Bosa flashed his signature two-hand swipe and sacked the quarterback. It was a beautiful move from Bosa and a reminder that he has one of the best rush arsenals in the NFL.

Left tackle versus right tackle

With Rashawn Slater missing most of the 11-on-11 work, Alt was asked to flip back and forth and play different sides of the offensive line. He seemed more comfortable at left tackle, which is to be expected given that was his role in college. The work on the right side was strong as well, but the loss against Bosa showed a player still working through timing and landmarks.

Chemistry with Zion Johnson

Left guard Zion Johnson had an outstanding first day, but what seemed to be truly special was how he worked in tandem with Alt. Offensive line coach Mike Devlin had been working with the line on communication and protection responsibilities all training camp. Seeing Johnson and Alt work together to help one another and pick up whatever Jesse Minter sent their way was a treat to watch.