MARRIED At First Sight star JJ Slater has revealed who he still speaks to from his series’ cast.
Currently recovering from his and hers surgeries with his girlfriend Katie Price after they jetted out to Turkey together, JJ has lifted the lid on his MAFS experience and unveiled the two people he still speaks to.
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JJ shot to fame on MAFS in 2023 when he was paired with Bianca PetronziCredit: Channel 4
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He then struck up a romance with Ella MorganCredit: Channel 4
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He is now in a relationship with Katie PriceCredit: Getty
Speaking to The Sun on behalf ofCasino.org, JJ opened up about whether or not he speaks to people from his series of MAFS.
JJ appeared on Married At First Sight UK in 2023, firstly marrying Bianca Petronzi before striking up a romance with co-star Ella Morgan.
When asked if he is still in touch with anyone, he said: “Not on a basis where we would message and check in with each other, apart from with Luke and with Terence.
“There is a boys’ group chat with all the boys in there. It’s pretty quiet now.
Read More about JJ Slater
“It was lively at first, but now it’s just like, happy birthdays.
“Or if someone’s going out, they’ll be like, I’m here, if anyone fancies a beer, stuff like that. But on a day-to-day basis, no.”
JJ’s comments on Married At First Sight UK come after he and his girlfriend Katie Price underwent his and hers surgeries.
The former glamour model, 47, and JJ had planned to go under the knife together, but he was banned from having an op.
JJ was forced to change his plans due to his Type 1 diabetes.
Katie Price reveals boyfriend JJ Slater got ‘hair transplant’ in Turkey after initially being denied surgery
She filmed her beau and shared the video on Snapchat as he underwent a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) procedure.
He had the work done at the last minute after his plan to have his eye bags removed couldn’t go ahead.
“I went to Turkey to have the bags under my eyes done, but I couldn’t have it done,” he explained in our exclusive earlier this week.
JJ went on: “I was all in the gown, wearing the knee-high socks, ready to go down. But my blood sugars were flagged.
“I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after the show, actually.
“So yeah, my blood sugars, there was a reading in my blood that they weren’t happy with, so they didn’t do the procedure. So recovery was fine, as it didn’t happen.”
Speaking about his diabetes diagnosis, JJ said it “was definitely one of the biggest life-changing things since the show”.
He went on: “Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, so I’ve done a lot of research into it.
“One of the potential triggers can be stress – not scientifically proven, but it does make you wonder, given everything going on around that time.”
He added: “I was 31, had never had any issues before, and suddenly I was really ill for about two months. But being a typical bloke, I just ignored it, thinking it would go away.
“But then, when I did get really ill, my dad was like, mate, you’ve got to get yourself to the hospital.”
Recalling when he was diagnosed, JJ said that he lost nearly two stone and was really thirsty.
“It’s a bit disgusting, but I was also passing blood in my urine,” he explained.
“That was the biggest trigger for me – that was when I told myself I had to get myself to get checked out.
“But since then, it has helped me. Now I’m more focused on what I eat because I have to, and I try to be a lot healthier.”
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He recently underwent a procedure in TurkeyCredit: BackGrid
EastEnders aired a much awaited ‘reunion’ between Max and Stacey in tonight’s episode – and although it wasn’t face to face, it doesn’t look like we’ll be waiting very long…
Max was left stunned when he heard Stacey’s voice on a phone call in tonight’s episode(Image: BBC)
The drama continued in tonight’s EastEnders, after last night’s cliff hanger saw Max Branning (Jake Wood) make his return to the show four years after his exit. It was revealed he was calling Zoe, with fans left wondering why. In tonight’s episode there connection was revealed, with a ‘reunion’ between Max and Stacey.
As Zoe lay fighting for her life in hospital, Stacey was the one in charge of her phone, and decided to give the “mystery man” a call, with no clue it was her former flame Max Branning.
Max Branning made a shock return to the soap last night (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
Max then leant her £5,000 to assist her in tracking down her son, as a private investigator found out had been fostered.
She then went to visit the foster parents neighbour in a bid to get information, but as he attempted to sexually assault her, resulting in Zoe striking him with a lamp. He was rendered unconscious, with Zoe believing she had murdered him.
Max refused to become involved and a furious Zoe stormed out his car as she proceeded to ring Stacey Slater, although we have no idea what was said.
Cut back to the present day, and as Stacey held Zoe’s phone in the waiting room, she saw a number of messages from Max, telling Zoe he still had the necklace he bought her, and can also get money to her. Of course, Stacey had no idea who was on the other end, as she attempted to phone him.
Max and Stacey’s affair reveal in 2007 will go down as on of EastEnders’ most memorable moments
Obviously thinking it was Zoe on the other line, Max answered by saying: “Did you miss me? Is everything okay?”
With the bad signal, Stacey didn’t recognise Max’s voice, although he clearly recognised hers and she asked who he was and what he wanted.
Max stopped speaking as he was left in shock, and although he hasn’t reunited with Stacey face to face yet, it may not be long until they do as he ‘threatened’ to return to Walford in a later conversation with Zoe.
As Zoe rang Max at the end of the episode, he guessed she was in Walford, after hearing Stacey’s voice.
Zoe warned him to stay away, saying she would “end him” if he came anywhere near, but Max wasn’t having any of it, as he told Zoe he hates being told what to do.
We know Max is making a permanent return to the Square, and although Stacey is set to be leaving soon, we’re sure the soap won’t miss a chance to have them face to face once again.
They hooked up once again ten years later on Christmas Eve. They planned to run away together, but things took a tragic turn when Tanya turned up and Abi and Lauren fell off the roof of the Vic.
With their digital reunion today – how will Stacey react when she finds out who really was behind the phone?
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
EastEnders fans were left gobsmacked after last week’s dramatic duff duff, which saw the return of Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan, to Albert Square after 20 years
Eleven days after signing a contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman in history, Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater went down in training camp with a knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
It was the latest crushing blow to a franchise with a withering track record of losing key players at the most inopportune times.
“It’s like a gut punch to the solar plexus,” coach Jim Harbaugh said in the aftermath of the July 27 injury. “Takes the wind out of you.”
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Sam Farmer talks about the impact Rashawn Slater’s season-ending injury will have on the Chargers.
This is where coaching and creativity kick in. It’s musical chairs along the offensive line as the Chargers scramble to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Justin Herbert without handcuffing their offense by committing too many resources to doing so.
The challenge is profound but not unique. Teams have navigated these choppy waters before.
“The basis of your pass [protection] basically is, you pay a ton of money to somebody that’s just going to lock down that end, the blind side,” retired NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “The blind side. They made a whole movie about it. That’s where you spend your money.”
When quarterback Rich Gannon was preparing for an opponent, the first offensive meeting of the week was about protections. How are we going to block these guys?
“We’d start by drawing five guys on the board, our offensive line,” Gannon said. “You’re just like, ‘OK, we’re going to build an offensive line.’ And we’d start with the left tackle, right? We’d just draw a big dollar sign. That’s the guy you have to pay. That’s the guy you have to have.”
In the case of the Chargers, erase that dollar sign from the board.
“When you lose a guy like that, there’s a trickle-down effect,” Gannon said. “You have to find someone to replace him. Now, what does that mean for our protection plan?
“Very few teams have a guy that can step in without a drop-off. And you’re talking about a Pro Bowl-caliber player at left tackle, there’s usually a significant difference when the backup goes in.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, left, and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater walk off the field after a win over the New Orleans Saints in October.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Even in this abysmal situation, there are flickers of positivity for the Chargers. First, they are moving Joe Alt from right tackle to left, where he spent his illustrious college career at Notre Dame. The Chargers used the fifth overall pick in 2024 on the 6-foot-8, 322-pound Alt, who Harbaugh says has Hall of Fame potential. Having Alt in the mix is a huge bonus for the club.
Still, switching from right to left tackle is no small feat.
“People think it’s just easy to play on the offensive line, and if you’re a right tackle you should be able to play on the left, but it’s not the same,” Hall of Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “Everything is different. You have muscle memory and different repetitions that you’ve done constantly. Doing something the same way all the time. One way.
“It’s not easy to pick up, switch your feet and go to the other side. The guard positions and center are more interchangeable, but when you start messing with your tackles, especially your left tackle, that’s a problem.”
More good news for the Chargers is that swing tackle Trey Pipkins is a blocker who can play on both ends of the offensive line. He too is returning to a familiar spot, as he was a right tackle at the University of Sioux Falls.
The Chargers will be tested right away. Their first three games are against division opponents, and their third is against Denver, which led the NFL last season with an average of 3.6 sacks per game.
“You’re going to have to start the season making sure you’ve got a back over there on the left side, or a tight end in passing situations just to make sure the quarterback doesn’t get whacked,” said Mike Tice, the onetime Minnesota Vikings head coach whose specialty is coaching offensive lines. “You’ve got to have a plan going into the season. If you don’t have a plan going in, you’re truly [doomed].”
Gannon said the Chargers are especially fortunate to have Greg Roman as their offensive coordinator, because Roman showed exceptional creativity in Baltimore beefing up their front with extra linemen and fullback Patrick Ricard, nicknamed “Pancake Pat” for his ability to flatten people in his path.
“They dressed it up with the Ravens,” said Gannon, an analyst for Sirius/XM NFL Radio. “Seven offensive linemen on the field. You’d get the defense to go big, then throw it.”
Gannon sees the versatile Scott Matlock playing the Ricard role for the Chargers. Matlock, listed on the roster as a fullback, is 6-4 and 296.
“His role is going to expand,” the retired quarterback predicted. “That’s how you do it. That’s how you build in protection when you’re down a left tackle.”
And though Harbaugh described the setback as a gut punch, Hasselbeck noted there’s a thread of a silver lining.
“From the front-office part of it, this is actually not the worst timing,” he said. “Not that there are great left tackles on the street, but at least you can do something now in training camp.
“It’s not as dire as losing your star guy on Friday before Week 1, or losing him during Week 1. Also, when guys get hurt early in the year and you lose them for the season, they’re more ready to go earlier in the offseason the next year.”
A day after losing the cornerstone of their offensive line, the mood around the Chargers’ training facility remained the same — somber.
“It’s like a gut punch into the solar plexus — takes the wind out of you,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Don’t really have the words or am able to think about anything else. Man, just feel bad.”
It was the first day of moving forward with a new-look offensive line after learning Rashawn Slater ruptured his patellar tendon — an injury that will require him to undergo season-ending surgery.
Even with the need to move forward, Slater remained on everyone’s mind. Harbaugh said he was confident Slater would overcome the setback.
“I also know how he’ll attack the rehab and train, and he’ll be back,” Harbaugh said. “Not this season, but I know he’ll be back.”
For Joe Alt — the other half of one of the best offensive tackle duos in the NFL — it was difficult to accept that the man who mentored him during his rookie season last year would not be playing in 2025.
“I’m praying for him,” Alt said. “I know what he’s going to do. I know he’s going to recover and he’s going to attack it and be back better than ever.”
The mindset in the offensive line room has shifted with Slater out. They are determined to stay focused on honoring him through their play.
“We’re brothers,” Alt said. “Yes, one fell down, and the goal is to play as well as five is one, and the only way we can do that is by moving forward and playing the best we can, to do what he would want us to do.”
Trey Pipkins III, who has moved into a potential starting role at right tackle because of the injury, said he spoke with Slater, whose “spirits are as good as they can be,” adding Slater was “joking around a little.”
Slater’s absence presents an opportunity for Pipkins, who is in the final year of his contract and returning to a position he played for his first five seasons before a brief shift to guard last season.
While Harbaugh said nothing is set, Pipkins — who started at right tackle in both 2022 and 2023 — will get the first look at the spot. Jamaree Salyer, who Harbaugh praised for a strong showing throughout camp, also could challenge for the starting role.
For now, the offensive line consists of Alt moving to left tackle, Zion Johnson at right guard, Bradley Bozeman at center, Mekhi Becton at left guard and Pipkins at right tackle, according to Harbaugh.
With the loss of depth on the offensive line, the team plans to explore the free-agent market and expects to bring in players for workouts Saturday before the preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Najee Harris’ status remains unclear
A potential return timeline for running back Najee Harris, who has been on the non-football injury/illness list since a July 4 fireworks incident, remains unclear.
Harris began walking laps at practice on Aug. 2, wearing a helmet with a visor and cleats, but has yet to progress further in his recovery. Harbaugh remained vague about when Harris might practice or play for the Chargers.
When asked if Harris would be ready for the Chargers’ season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil — which Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, said he expects — Harbaugh replied, “There is a chance.”
Like with most player injury updates, Harbaugh deferred to his lack of medical expertise when asked if the injury was still just “superficial,” as first reported, or something more serious.
Two days ago, Harris posted a photo on Snapchat showing his left eye completely shut, captioned: “WE AT IT.”
“I don’t comment on it because I am not a doctor,” Harbaugh said. “I’m not Mr. Harris’ agent, either. I’m talking about what I know, and can he open his eye? Yeah. I’ve looked into his eye.”
From Anthony De Leon: Rashawn Slater, the Chargers’ star left tackle who became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history last month, sustained a torn patellar tendon in practice and will undergo season-ending surgery, the team announced Thursday.
Slater went down in team drills after going up against edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu. As Slater planted his left foot, he collapsed to the ground and immediately grabbed his leg.
A quiet hush fell over the Chargers’ facility while Slater stayed down for several minutes before trainers and teammates helped him onto a cart. Slater appeared visibly distraught — throwing his helmet, slamming his hand on the cart and burying his face in his hands. Several teammates walked over to console him before he left the field.
Two trainers supported him as he entered the team facility. He was unable to put any weight on his left leg.
But not at SoFi Stadium, where the Rams will play the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason game.
Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that the back issue that has sidelined Stafford since the start of training camp was related to an aggravated disc, and that Stafford recently received an epidural from spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins.
Stafford will go through a workout at the Rams’ Woodland Hill facility Saturday morning.
From Ira Gorawara: When Julie Vanloo drew her second traveling violation before halftime, the crowd’s disapproval rose in unison.
On the floor, with tempers simmering on the Sparks’ bench, a delay-of-game whistle drew another round of jeers from the Crypto.com Arena crowd.
The calls weren’t the only sources of frustration for the Sparks — the team also was trailing the last-place Connecticut Sun by 10 points.
Still, the flare-up might have been what the Sparks needed to rally to a 102-91 victory over the Sun to earn their eighth win in nine games.
“Since the beginning of the season, I’ve been optimistic about what this team would look like and why I want to be here and why I want to continue to be here,” Dearica Hamby said. “[This team is] one of the fastest teams I’ve been with. … We’re not done yet, we’ve got a lot more to accomplish.”
From Ben Bolch: UCLA’s defense, the biggest unknown on the team a year ago, is facing even more questions.
A slew of players moved on to the NFL. No full-time starters return. Success will depend on several players with promising pedigrees but limited college production becoming playmakers.
As he stepped off a team bus Wednesday afternoon in Costa Mesa amid the warmest day of training camp, the temperature reaching 82 degrees before warmup stretches, Key Lawrence did not appear to feel any sort of heat, literal or figurative. The transfer safety who has made previous college stops at Tennessee, Oklahoma and Mississippi was humming a tune, savoring every moment of this new opportunity.
From Eric Sondheimer: The Little League team from Honolulu has a chance to become a three-time world champion.
Winners of the Little League World Series in 2018 and 2022, the team from Hawaii earned a spot in this year’s World Series on Thursday night with a 4-1 win over Fullerton Golden Hill in San Bernardino. They will travel to Williamsport, Pa., where the World Series begins on Wednesday.
Golden Hill’s only two losses came from Honolulu, including a 1-0 loss to start the tournament. It was the first time in the league’s 69-year history that a team had advanced to the West Region final.
Pitcher Bronson Fermahin took advantage of his team scoring three runs in the first two innings by throwing lots of strikes. He had eight strikeouts through the first four innings and finished with 11 in 5 ⅔ innings before Golden Hill pushed across a run with two outs in the sixth.
1902 — The United States, led by William Larned, beats Britain three matches to two to capture the Davis Cup.
1903 — Britain wins the Davis Cup by beating the United States 4-1.
1936 — At the Berlin Olympics, the United States finishes 1-2-3 in the men’s decathlon. Glenn Morris sets a world record with 7,900 points, followed by Robert Clark and Jack Parker.
1981 — Shiaway St. Pat, driven by Ray Remmen, wins the first Hambletonian Stakes run at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. in four heats.
1982 — Ray Floyd, who shot a record 63 in the opening round, wins the PGA championship by three shots over Lanny Wadkins.
1984 — Carl Lewis sets the Olympic record in the 200 meters with a 19.80 clocking.
1987 — Mack Lobell, driven by John Campbell, wins the Hambletonian in straight heats with a record-smashing performance. Mack Lobell wins the second heat, and the race, by 6¼ lengths over Napoletano in 1:53 3-5, a fifth of a second off the world all-age trotting record set by Prakas in 1985.
1992 — The Dream Team picks up its gold medal and Carl Lewis anchors a world-record 400-meter relay, winning his eighth gold medal in three Olympics. The U.S. basketball team beats Croatia 117-85, with the 32-point margin of victory the smallest of the Games. In the 400, Mike Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Dennis Mitchell and Lewis set a world record of 37.40 seconds. Steve Lewis anchors another world-record as the Americans won the 1,600 relay by nearly half the length of a football field. The team of Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson and Lewis ran the 1,600 in 2:55.74.
2006 — Roger Goodell is chosen as the NFL’s next commissioner. Favored for months to get the job, he is unanimously elected by the league’s 32 owners on the fifth ballot.
2010 — Sparks forward Tina Thompson scores 23 points to become the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader in a 92-83 loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars. She surpasses Lisa Leslie’s career total of 6,263 points. Thompson is the last of the original WNBA players.
2012 — Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States become the first three-time gold medalists in Olympic beach volleyball history. The duo beat Jennifer Kessy and April Ross 21-16, 21-16 in the all-American final, extending their Olympic winning streak to 21 matches.
2012 — Brittney Reese wins the long jump, becoming the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic long jump since Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1988. Caster Semenya makes her Olympic debut three years after being forced to undergo gender tests, finishing second in her 800 heat.
2015 — Katie Ledecky ends her world swimming championships in spectacular style, lowering her own world record by 3.61 seconds in the 800-meter freestyle for her fifth gold medal. The 18-year-old American completes a sweep of the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyles in Kazan, Russia. She was the anchor leg on the victorious 4×200 free relay, too.
2018 — The NCAA Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors adopt a “series of significant policy and legislative changes” as part of an effort to “fundamentally” change the NCAA’s structure. The NCAA changes eligibility rules, allowing top prospects to hire agents in high school and giving college players more leeway to return after declaring for NBA draft.
2021 — USA women’s basketball team wins it’s record extending 7th consecutive Olympic gold medal with 90-75 win over Japan in Tokyo; guards Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each win their 5th straight gold.
2021 — USA Women’s volleyball defeats Brazil in straight sets to win the gold medal. It’s the first olympic gold medal in USA Women’s volleyball history. The win gives the United States 39 gold medals, breaking a tie with China on the final day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1903 — A week after pitching his first doubleheader triumph, Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity of the New York Giants scored a double victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 and 4-3. In the second game, he stole home.
1915 — Philadelphia’s Gavy Cravath hit four doubles and drove in eight runs in a 14-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.
1920 — Howard Ehmke of the Detroit Tigers pitched the fastest 1-0 game in American League history — 1 hour, 13 minutes, for a victory against the New York Yankees.
1931 — Bob Burke of the Washington Senators pitched a 5-0 no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox.
1954 — The Brooklyn Dodgers pounded the Cincinnati Reds 20-7 at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers scored 13 runs in the eighth inning after two were out.
1973 — Designated hitter Orlando Cepeda hit four doubles as the Boston Red Sox posted a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
1985 — Baseball, after a two-day walkout, resumed playing with 18 games scheduled, including five doubleheaders.
1988 — The first night game scheduled in the 74-year history of Chicago’s Wrigley Field’s was postponed with the Cubs leading the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 after heavy rains started in the bottom of the fourth inning. Philadelphia’s Phil Bradley led off the game with a home run, but all numbers were wiped out when the rain came.
1992 — Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley had his consecutive save record snapped at 40. His consecutive save records — 36 straight to start a season, and 40 straight over two seasons — ended trying to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals. Eckersley gave up a two-out, two-run single to Gregg Jefferies to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. But the Athletics came back to win the game in the ninth, 5-3.
1997 — Randy Johnson struck out 19, matching the major league record for left-handers he had tied earlier this season, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-0.
1998 — Paul Molitor stole his 500th base in Minnesota’s 6-3 loss to Baltimore become the fifth player with 3,000 hits and 500 steals. Molitor joined Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins and Lou Brock.
2000 — Darren Dreifort of the Dodgers hit two homers and was the winning pitcher in a 7-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
2001 — Damion Easley went 6-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs as Detroit pounded Texas 19-6.
2014 — Bartolo Colon records the 200th win of his career in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Phillies.
2016 — Brandon Crawford became the first major league player in 41 years to get seven hits in a game, putting the San Francisco Giants ahead to stay with an RBI single in the 14th inning of an 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins. Crawford tripled, doubled and had five singles in eight at-bats.
2018 — Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames hit consecutive first-inning homers to spoil the debut of San Diego’s Brett Kennedy in the Brewers 8-4 win over the Padres.
2018 — Jacob deGrom struck out 10 over six innings, received rare significant run support and earned his first win in nearly two months as the New York Mets blanked the Cincinnati Reds 8-0. Brandon Nimmo tied a team record with three doubles and drove in three runs as the Mets won for the 22nd time in their last 66 games. DeGrom (6-7) ended a seven-start winless streak, allowing four hits in a 100-pitch outing and lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.77.
Compiled by the Associated Press
Until next time…
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Rashawn Slater, the Chargers’ star left tackle who became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history last month, sustained a torn patellar tendon in practice and will undergo season-ending surgery, the team announced Thursday.
Slater went down in team drills after going up against edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu. As Slater planted his left foot, he collapsed to the ground and immediately grabbed his leg.
A quiet hush fell over the Chargers’ facility while Slater stayed down for several minutes before trainers and teammates helped him onto a cart. Slater appeared visibly distraught — throwing his helmet, slamming his hand on the cart and burying his face in his hands. Several teammates walked over to console him before he left the field.
Two trainers supported him as he entered the team facility. He was unable to put any weight on his left leg.
“I didn’t really see anything — I kind of just turned around and boom,” Tuipulotu said of the play. “We’re praying for him.”
The injury is a significant setback for a Chargers team that was hoping to have Slater anchor an offensive line that was hampered by injuries and struggled, at times, to create opportunities for the running game last season. The injury comes as the Chargers are already dealing with depth concerns along the line, with Mekhi Becton being sidelined since July 28 because of an undisclosed injury.
Slater played a valuable role in helping the Chargers set a franchise record for the fewest offensive turnovers (eight) in a season. He also finished 2024 with the second-best overall grade and the third-best pass-blocking grade at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus.
Joe Alt slid over to left tackle for the remainder of practice Thursday. Trey Pipkins III subbed in at right tackle — where he started in 2022 and 2023 — before spending most of last season at right guard, starting 15 games. With Slater out, Alt likely will be Justin Herbert’s blindside protector this season.
Keenan Allen always envisioned a return to the Chargers. Once his brief stint with the Chicago Bears ended, he saw himself coming back to the franchise that drafted him.
“It was close to home and family,” Allen said. “This is what I’m used to. The organization, the people around the building — it just feels like home.”
Thursday marked Allen’s first day back in powder blue and gold — a welcome sight for fans who watched his climb over 11 seasons.
On his first snap of full-team drills, Allen hauled in a strike over the middle from Justin Herbert, reigniting a familiar connection that lasted four seasons.
The two began rebuilding their chemistry last Friday, when Herbert threw to Allen during a private workout. Allen said they stayed in touch throughout the process leading up to his return.
Allen said he missed being on the receiving end of Herbert’s throws and is “just happy to be back.”
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” Allen said.
He is the veteran leader of a receiving room that looks much different than the one he left, with Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis the only holdovers from two seasons ago.
“[It’s] much better than what I’m used to seeing in a training camp this early,” Allen said of his first impressions. “The technique, the way they’re getting downfield, the way they’re pressing coverages — I think it looks great.”
Allen shared how impressed he’s been with Ladd McConkey, who broke his franchise rookie receiving records, joking, “He had a few more games.”
“You’ve got two guys who love to play football and compete,” said Allen, on sharing the field with McConkey. “You can put us anywhere. … And obviously, he showed that last year.”
Throughout the offseason, Allen felt teams “downplayed” his value. Entering his 13th season, he’s out to prove he can still perform at a high level at 33.
“Still got a little hunger, little chip on my shoulder and still want to go out there and play ball,” Allen said.
Jay Slater’s mum Debbie Duncan asked for her son’s inquest to be resumed after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May
One of the last people to speak to Jay Slater said the 19-year-old did not seem threatened as he made his way home from an Airbnb he had gone to with two men he had met in a nightclub in Tenerife, an inquest has heard.
Mr Slater, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on the Spanish island on 17 June 2024, shortly after speaking to his friend Bradley Geoghegan on the phone.
Asked by coroner Dr James Adeley if Mr Slater “seemed fearful or under duress”, Mr Geoghehan said: “No,” adding he had “probably… sobered up and decided to come back”.
A huge search was launched, and his body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July.
The inquest heard he had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk home.
Mr Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said his friend had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared.
Family handout
Jay Slater was found dead at the bottom of a Tenerife ravine last summer
The court heard Mr Slater had been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk and instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, he went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the holiday.
The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still “under the influence”, the inquest heard.
Mr Geoghegan said: “I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive.
“I said, ‘Get a taxi back’, then he just goes, ‘I will ring you back’.”
The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare.
Coroner Dr James Adeley asked the witness: “Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?”
Mr Geoghegan replied: “No. I think he probably got there and thought, ‘Why am I here?’, sobered up and decided to come back.”
‘Last phone call’
The inquest also heard from Lucy Law who travelled to Tenerife with Mr Slater.
She recounted a phone call she received from a friend on the morning of 17 June 2024.
She said she was told Mr Slater was in the mountains and did not have much phone battery left.
Ms Law then described a subsequent phone call with Mr Slater – the last known outgoing communication from his phone – in which she asked him where he was and what he was doing.
“He was like ‘I’m in the middle of the mountains’.”
She said Mr Slater told her there was “literally nothing” around.
She added she was panicking because his battery was low, and asked him to go back to where he came from.
Reuters
Jay Slater’s body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July after a huge search
Mr Slater, had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on 16 June last year.
Mr Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing to Spanish police on 18 June.
Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine.
A huge search was launched before his body was found by a mountain rescue team almost a month later.
‘No evidence of assault’
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May.
Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he vanished.
The hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin.
The court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater’s body.
Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater’s body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height.
‘Off his head’
Det Ch Insp Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater’s phone data.
On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was “off his head”.
Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning and left the property at about 07.45.
Statements from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home.
More messages from friends warned him about the “boiling” heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 08:51, suggesting his phone battery had died.
Reuters
Mr Slater went missing in the early hours of 17 June 2024 and his body was found after a huge search lasting almost a month
The next witness, Ayub Qassim, said he and a friend, Steven Roccas, met Mr Slater and his friends out in Tenerife.
He said he had been in a different venue then later met Mr Slater and Mr Geoghegan getting something to eat after the clubs closed.
He said Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas’ apartment.
Mr Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: “I did say, ‘Bro, oh mate, it’s so far away from the strip’.
“There’s nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us.”
‘Did not steal’
The coroner then asked the witness about messages Mr Slater had sent about a watch possibly being stolen.
The inquest was shown a Snapchat video featuring a short clip of a car dashboard with a caption referring to taking a “12k rolly” and being off to “get 10 quid for it”.
He added: “Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent.”
Asked to explain the social media post by Mr Slater, the witness said: “He could be boasting to his friends. He’s on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate.”
The coroner said: “But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?”
Mr Qassim said: “No. One hundred per cent. I didn’t see a watch. At this point he’s just firing off messages.”
He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed.
Warned him
Mr Qassim said he was woken a short time later by a couple pressing the buzzer because they wanted him to move his car.
When he got out his car Mr Slater came towards him and said he was leaving and to “catch a bus” to go back to his apartment, Mr Qassim told the court.
He said he told Mr Slater there were no buses and warned him against it.
Mr Qassim said he told Mr Slater to wait and he would drive him back later but he replied his friends were waiting for him.
Mr Qassim said he went back to sleep, presuming Mr Slater was waiting at the bus stop.
The coroner asked him if there was any altercation between them to which Mr Qassim replied: “No.”
Alfie Moon is currently hiding a big secret from his wife Kat in EastEnders, but next week his lie is set to be exposed – leading up to a return for Zoe Slater
It’s set to be another huge week in EastEnders next week, as Alfie’s huge lie is exposed. Just days after his third marriage to Kat, Alfie revealed he was off to Australia to see Spencer – starting their marriage off on a huge lie.
Viewers however, know he’s headed off to Barcelona to try and find Zoe Slater, after she left Stacey’s London flat following a close run in with her mother, Kat. We know Zoe will be back to reprise her role full-time, but with recent events – it looks like we could be seeing her on screen soon.
Kat seems to be catching on to the lie, as she this week, she revealed she hadn’t spoken to Alfie, and Spencer was acting shifty when she called.
Stacey tells Kat she hasn’t heard from Alfie – despite speaking to him on the phone(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Now, spoilers for next week reveal his lie is set to be rumbled. Stacey Slater returns when Kat expresses her upset about recent events. Stacey covers that she hasn’t heard from Alfie – but Jean later accidentally exposes her when she reveals Stacey took a call from Alfie in the morning.
A furious Kat once again rings her brother-in-law Spencer to demand answers, and it then becomes apparent that Alfie isn’t in Australia after all.
Of course, Kat heads off to confront Stacey about the huge lie – but will she find out the truth?
Earlier this month, Michelle Ryan left EastEnders fans stunned when she made her shock return as Zoe Slater after two decades away from Albert Square. Michelle featured in two episodes in Stacey’s flat before heading off to Barcelona – but it’s been confirmed it’s not the last we’ll see of her.
It’s been released that Zoe will be making a permanent return back to the soap, in scenes airing later in the summer. Those who have been keeping an eye on Michelle’s Instagram story will know the star has already started filming.
Kat will soon find out that Alfie is lying about his whereabouts (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
We know the soaps film around 6-8 weeks in advance, which means we can expect to see Zoe onscreen around that time frame, in late summer.
Not much has been given away about how Zoe’s return will go down, but it’s safe to say she’ll be bumping into her mother Kat Slater at some point.
Zoe’s return marked new executive producer Ben Wadey’s first episode in charge, as he teased exciting things to come for the character.
Speaking on the huge moment, he said: “Before I even stepped into the role, Zoe Slater was on my wish-list of returnees as although we haven’t seen her on screen for twenty years, her character has transcended time due to her popular storylines.
“I was absolutely delighted when Michelle agreed to return, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back to Walford. Whilst I can’t say too much at this stage, Zoe’s return is just one of the many exciting storylines we have planned.”
