Chargers injury report for Week 8 vs. Vikings: Haskins out; Alt, Pipkins, Molden headline a long questionable list

Bassyonni

ago 6 hours

Chargers injury report

The Chargers enter Thursday night with one player ruled out and seven listed questionable for their prime-time matchup against the Vikings at SoFi Stadium (Thursday, Oct. 23; 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT). The headlines: a banged-up offensive line, a secondary still nursing a key thumb injury, and a depth chart that could swing either way after pregame warmups.

Game status at a glance

Out: RB Hassan Haskins (hamstring) — did not practice all week.
Questionable (7):
- LT Joe Alt (ankle) — limited all week.
- RT Trey Pipkins III (knee) — limited all week.
- DB Elijah Molden (thumb) — limited all week.
- LB Troy Dye (thumb) — limited all week.
- DL Jamaree Caldwell (illness) — returned to limited after a DNP.
- T Austin Deculus (ankle) — limited all week.
- OL Jamaree Salyer (knee) — practiced fully but still carries a designation.

Note: Wednesday was a walkthrough; those listings are estimates. Final actives/inactives post 90 minutes before kickoff.

What the injuries mean for the Chargers’ offense

Edge protection is the variable. With Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III both questionable, the bookend tackle spots may be a game-time call. If either starter can’t go, the staff likely turns to Austin Deculus (also questionable) and interior swing options to stabilize protections. Expect contingency plans that emphasize:

Quick-game and RPOs to keep the rush off rhythm.
Chip and slide help toward the less-settled edge.
More under-center play-action to slow the first step from Minnesota’s rushers.

Run-game texture. With Hassan Haskins out, the rotation condenses. Look for a pass-protection-first back on obvious passing downs and a heavier dose of perimeter runs that ask the tackles to seal rather than hold long one-on-one blocks. If the line is less than full strength, the Chargers could lean on screens and draws to punish pressure.

Defensive ripple effects

Elijah Molden (thumb) is central to the sub package. If he’s limited or inactive, nickel and safety rotations get reshuffled, with more snaps for depth DBs and possibly a bigger role for three-linebacker looks on early downs. That’s where Troy Dye (thumb) comes in; if he’s up, he provides special-teams value and spot duty in base, but his hand injury bears watching for tackling and takeaways.

Up front, Jamaree Caldwell (illness) being questionable after returning to limited work suggests the interior rotation is intact but thinner than usual. Expect heavier snaps for the top two defensive tackles if he’s not at full go, and more simulated pressure looks to manufacture interior havoc.

Inactives chessboard: most likely swing spots

Offensive tackle: If Alt or Pipkins sits, the club must balance protection with keeping enough active linemen to survive a long night.
Defensive back: Molden’s status dictates whether the team activates an extra corner/safety for nickel and dime.
Special teams: Dye’s thumb and any late-week illness updates could force elevations to protect core units.

Strategic adjustments to expect

Tempo toggles. Early no-huddle segments can simplify protections and tire out the pass rush; the offense can slow the cadence near midfield to check into safer protections.
Formation answers. More two-TE or 6-OL looks on high-leverage downs if a tackle is out, with motion to identify coverage and create angles in the run game.
Defensive disguise. If the nickel group is compromised, expect split-safety shells pre-snap that spin late, with corners playing top-down to limit explosives and force long drives.

Kickoff and reporting windows

Kickoff: Thursday, Oct. 23 — 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT.
Inactives posted: Approximately 90 minutes before kickoff. That’s when the final calls on Alt, Pipkins, Molden, and the rest of the questionable group become official.

The Week 8 Chargers injury report sets up a classic prime-time coin flip: if even two of the three headliners (Alt, Pipkins, Molden) are cleared, the game plan can stay close to script. If not, expect a protection-first approach on offense, a bend-but-don’t-break shell on defense, and heavy emphasis on situational football to squeeze out a result.