Chargers' Joe Alt provides encouraging answer about playing Thursday night vs. Vikings

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First, Khalil Mack. Now, Joe Alt?
Next thing you know the Los Angeles Chargers might even get their swagger back.
In sweet news on a short week, the Bolts' star left tackle confirmed Tuesday that he plans to play in Thursday night's home game against the Minnesota Vikings. Alt suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and has missed the last three games.
MORE: Chargers injury updates hint at big returns for Justin Herbert in Week 8
In those game the Chargers are 1-2, with the one win being a last-second field goal to beat the one-win Dolphins in Miami.
Alt, of course, was moved from right tackle to left after Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. When No. 3 left tackle Austin Deculus went down with a knee injury in last Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Jim Harbaugh was forced to play natural guard Foster Sarell on the outside.
Joe Alt's Week 8 Status Answer
Alt was back on the practice field Tuesday, albeit with his right ankle heavily taped. When asked by reporters if he was going to play against the Vikings in the primetime showdown at SoFi Stadium, Alt answered ...
Q to Joe Alt: “Are you we gonna see you Thursday?”
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) October 22, 2025
Alt: “That’s the plan.”
"That's the plan."
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Mack returned from a month-long absence last week and recorded the Chargers' only sack against the Colts. The return of Alt would go a long way toward reuniting a roster that got off to a hot 3-0 start that feels like years ago.

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Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.
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