EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers are placing rookie running back Omarion Hampton on injured reserve with an ankle injury, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.
Hampton will now miss at least the next four games. He will not be eligible to return until Week 10, when the Chargers host the Pittsburgh Steelers for a Sunday night game.
“He’s going to miss time,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll miss at least four games, and then he’ll return as soon as he can after that.”
Harbaugh would not provide any details on the nature of Hampton’s ankle injury. Hampton injured his ankle on a fourth down late in the third quarter of the Chargers’ 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Quarterback Justin Herbert took the snap, faked a handoff to Hampton and rolled to his right as Hampton sprinted into the flat. As Hampton accelerated, he tripped over the foot of Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu. Hampton came up limping and exited the game.
After a few moments in the blue medical tent, Hampton tried to test out his ankle on the sideline but was unable to return.
“That was an unfortunate occurrence,” Harbaugh said.
Hampton, the No. 22 pick in April, was starting to live up to his draft position. In a Week 4 loss to the Giants, he rushed for a career-high 128 yards on 12 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run. From Week 3 to Week 5, Hampton also had 17 catches for 122 yards. The Chargers were relying on him as a workhorse back after running back Najee Harris suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in a Week 3 win over the Denver Broncos.
“He has been in a really good rhythm, playing really well,” Harbaugh said of Hampton. “Special player.”
Now the Chargers are reeling in their running back room. They had visions of an effective one-two punch in the backfield with Hampton and Harris. Both players are now on IR. The next man up is Hassan Haskins, who has 195 career rushing yards with a 3.0 career yards-per-carry average. Behind Haskins, the Chargers have two practice squad running backs in Kimani Vidal and Amar Johnson. Vidal, a 2024 sixth-round pick, has been elevated from the practice squad for the past two games. He had 18 rushing yards on four carries against the Commanders.
“We’ll look to other avenues as well,” Harbaugh said of filling out his team’s running back depth.
Poor injury luck has come for the Chargers this season. On top of losing their top two running backs, the Chargers have been playing without both of their starting tackles. Rashawn Slater is out for the season with a knee injury. Joe Alt missed the Commanders game with a high ankle sprain and was still in a boot during Sunday’s pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium.
Starting right guard Mekhi Becton has battled multiple injuries this season and has only played 51.3 percent of the offensive snaps. On Sunday, Becton injured his hand and was limited to 38 snaps.
In addition, top edge rusher Khalil Mack has not played since Week 2 because of an elbow injury. Mack is on IR and not eligible to return until Week 7.
“It’s just a time to shine for players, for coaches, for everybody in this organization,” Harbaugh said of the injuries. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and I just look at it as an opportunity to do that.”
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