EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Monday.
Harris sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Chargers’ 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. After the game, Harbaugh said preliminary testing indicated a torn Achilles. On Monday, Harbaugh said additional imaging confirmed the injury.
“It’s unfortunate,” Harbaugh said. “Naj will be back. I have no doubt about it.”
Harris did not miss a game in his first four NFL seasons, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his time with the Chargers has been turbulent.
The Chargers signed Harris to a one-year deal in March. Harris then sustained an eye injury in a July 4 fireworks accident. He was placed on the non-football illness list and missed all of training camp, but he was activated for the start of the season. Now Harris’ season is done after three games and just 15 carries. He is slated to hit free agency after this season.
Harris was performing solidly in a limited role as he worked his way back into football shape. Though he was only averaging 4.1 yards per carry, Harris had a 53.3 percent rushing success rate on his 15 carries, according to TruMedia. That ranks sixth among all running backs with at least 10 carries through the first three weeks of the season. On the final play of the first quarter Sunday, Harris converted a third-and-1 on a rush up the middle, powering through defenders with a second effort.
“He was really playing well,” Harbaugh said.
With 5:12 remaining in the second quarter, Harris was aligned behind quarterback Justin Herbert in a single back formation. Herbert took the snap from under center. Harris planted his left leg and tried to take a step forward. He then collapsed immediately.
A huge opportunity now awaits rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who had the best game of his career in Sunday’s win over the Broncos. Hampton finished with 129 scrimmage yards on 25 touches — 70 on the ground and 59 as a receiver.
“Just stepping up and being someone they can count on,” Hampton said in the locker room after the game. “Someone they can put their trust in to give me the ball whenever they need it.”
The Chargers were dealing with considerable pressure from the Broncos front throughout Sunday’s game. Herbert was pressured on nearly 50 percent of his dropbacks, according to TruMedia. In the second half, the Chargers turned to Hampton as a weapon in the passing game. Herbert needed to get the ball out quickly to neutralize the Broncos pass rush, and Hampton was his option in the checkdown game.
Hampton caught all six of his targets in the second half for 59 yards, including a crucial 22-yarder in the flat on the winning touchdown drive.
“It was a game-ball-worthy performance,” Harbaugh said of Hampton. “He put in the work.”
Hampton has not been overly efficient as a runner so far this season. He is averaging 3.4 yards per carry. However, some of that is related to the Chargers’ inconsistent run blocking. The Chargers rank 24th in yards before contact per rush, according to TruMedia. They are without starting left tackle Rashawn Slater, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Right guard Mekhi Becton has also been in and out of the lineup. He missed snaps in the opener in Brazil because of an illness, and he left Sunday’s game in the second quarter because of a concussion.
Hampton has shown enticing flashes when the blocking has synced up in front of him. He has the speed and explosiveness to get to the edge. He is physical between the tackles, and he is a violent finisher through contact, especially in the open field.
“The competitive fire, the fierceness and the acceleration through the holes, there’s no fear,” Harbaugh said of Hampton.
In Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Harris was still very limited and only played 12 snaps. Hampton was on the field for 80 percent of the Chargers’ offensive snaps. On Sunday, Hampton played 79 percent of the offensive snaps — 68 snaps in total.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has stated his belief in a shared backfield. In training camp, Roman said the bell-cow back is “going the way of prehistoric creatures.”
The Chargers, however, do not have ideal options behind Hampton now that Harris is out. Hassan Haskins is second on the depth chart, but he has primarily been a special teams player for the Chargers. Haskins has 182 career rushing yards. The Chargers also have 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal on the practice squad. Harbaugh said Vidal is the “next man up.” Vidal will likely take Harris’ spot on the 53-man once the Chargers place him on injured reserve.
Hampton is a complete back, including in pass protection. The Chargers will need to use him as a bell cow, even if that was not the initial plan.
They drafted Hampton in the first round for a reason.
“He’s in a great place to climb from,” Harbaugh said, “and I trust that he will continue to be a great player.”
(Photo: Brooke Sutton / Getty Images)
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