Chargers RT Joe Alt Out Sunday: Week 5 Survivor Read on LA
Oct 8, 2026
Joe Alt sidelined as Chargers injuries pile up
Right tackle Joe Alt (neck) did not practice Wednesday and isn't expected to suit up Sunday. He was one of eight Chargers held out of the session — a sizable number for a team already walking into a tough matchup.
The timing matters. Los Angeles hosts Denver in Week 5, and the Broncos are 3.5-point favorites on the road. That's a notable spread for a home team: oddsmakers see Denver as the stronger side even in LA.
The survivor-pick read on the Chargers
Start here — the Chargers aren't even favored, so they shouldn't be on your Week 5 survivor radar in the first place. Picking a home underdog is the kind of gamble that ends survivor runs. Layer in Alt out at right tackle and a crowded Wednesday injury report, and there's zero reason to spend LA on a pool entry this week.
If you're hunting for safer ground, look at teams laying points with clean injury reports rather than reaching for an underdog with a banged-up line. And note that the road doesn't get easier: the Chargers travel to Kansas City in Week 6 as 2.5-point underdogs again, so this isn't a short-term dip to fade and circle back to soon. Keep LA off your board and lean on cleaner favorites when you build your NFL survivor pool picks for the week. New to the format? The survivor pool FAQ covers how to weigh favorites, spreads, and injuries before you lock a pick.