Najee

Harris

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said he expected this to happen, but the news is now official. Per head coach Jim Harbaugh, Harris is at the team facilities this week. Harris can be activated whenever, so this move doesn’t necessarily mean he will miss any time during the season. Harris suffered an eye injury in a fireworks incident on July 5. It was initially reported to be “superficial”, but the fact that he is being held out of practice to start training camp is at least slightly concerning. While he is out, first-round rookie Omarion Hampton will get the bulk of the first-team reps, giving him the chance to leave Harris in the dust as the clear starter before the season even begins.

Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Stanford doctors have been treating Harris’ eye injury, and ESPN’s Kris Rhim reports that “the Chargers haven’t seen the extent of Harris’ injury yet.” Harris’ agent previously said the injury is “superficial” in nature, and he expects Harris to be ready for the regular season. Hopefully, the Chargers’ team doctors agree with the assessment.

Speaking on The Insiders on NFL Network, Rapoport relayed words from Harris’ agent that backed up previous reports that said the eye injury sustained by the veteran running back were superficial, adding that Harris is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and should be back on the field “sooner rather than later.” Rapoport also stated that Harris is not expected to miss significant time. Even so, any missed time in camp could cut the expected snap rate gap between he and rookie first-round selection Omarion Hampton to start the regular season, something fantasy managers will want to keep an attentive eye on as the following weeks play out.

There is more to learn about Harris’ injury specifics and his road to recovery, but this is good news. A surface-level injury suffered by the eye is, of course, different than an elbow abrasion. But from a vision standpoint, Harris is seemingly expected to be in football shape come September after suffering an eye injury that resulted in two hospital visits just last weekend. We will wait for more details to fully assess his 2025 outlook, though it stands to reason that the coaching staff would ease him into action in training camp.

The incident reportedly occurred at 12:20 a.m. on July 5. Per the report, “the nature and severity of Harris’ injury could not immediately be verified” and “officials said that other people had been hurt in the blast, but did not specify their number or how severely any of them had been injured.” Harris reportedly visited two hospitals following the accident. Neither the mode of transport nor the reason for the relocation was shared. Rumors swirled online and locally earlier today about the nature of the injury, but details have been difficult to come by and Antioch police said on Thursday they were still investigating the incident actively.

“I look at Najee and Omarion — both starters,” Harbaugh said. “He brings that same type of mentality Najee brings. Like I said last week, we’re looking for someone who complements but also offers the same,” Bolts GM Joe Hortiz added. These comments seem to paint this as more of a committee situation, at least for September. That probably makes Hampton more of a speculative mid-round pick than a sure-fire volume back, though we expect Hampton will eventually wind up seeing the majority of the volume. He is the better third-down back on paper, so long as his pass-protection credentials hold up in the translation to the NFL.

Hampton lands with the Chargers and run-first offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The highly-efficient Hampton should have no problem eventually operating as the Bolts’ lead back ahead of deeply inefficient Najee Harris in 2025. Harris could take some short-yardage and goal-line work away from Hampton, however. A solid if distant No. 2 behind Ashton Jeanty in this year’s running back draft class, 22-year-old Hampton (6’0/221) enters the league as a power back who tacked on 67 receptions over the past two seasons. A 1,500-yard rusher on 250-plus carries each of the past two years, Hampton is a genuine workhorse. He’s also a big-play threat, ripping over 45 runs of 10-plus yards last season. That includes 26 of 15-plus yards. Hampton confirmed his explosiveness at the Combine, posting a 4.46 40, 38-inch vertical, and 10’ 10’’ broad jump. The questions are not about his physical skills, but rather his finesse and feel. Hampton seemed to lack elite vision in the ACC, and wasn’t instinctual when it came to utilizing pace steps and waiting for the hole to develop. Those are the kinds of flaws that can doom even the most physically-gifted backs, but maybe Hampton just needs a little NFL coaching. He’s a high-floor, reasonable-ceiling pick as the second back off the board behind Jeanty.

Harris best ball holders and Kimani Vidal true believers are shaking hands and mending fences as Popper says that the Chargers could take a running back “as early as the 22nd pick in the first round.” Popper thinks the Chargers will not be re-signing J.K. Dobbins, but an early draft pick could be a huge thorn in the side of Harris at best. At worst, we could see a full-blown committee approach in Los Angeles.

The deal was reported to be in the works earlier this evening and the ink should be dry later this week. It’s slightly surprising to see Harris only land a one-year deal, but the bruising back can make “up to” $9.25 in 2025 and then hit the open market again next year. Harris will take over as the Chargers’ top option with JK Dobbins yet to be re-signed by the team and Gus Edwards released ahead of free agency. Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four seasons with the Steelers but hasn’t pushed past 1,043 yards since his rookie season. There isn’t much upside for the Chargers with this signing, but Harris is a competent runner who can handle the grind of the NFL season, something none of LA’s backs managed in 2025. With more touchdown opportunities than he saw in Pittsburgh, Harris could stick at the back of the RB2 fantasy ranks if he avoids major competition for touches via the draft.

Rapoport adds that the “deal is not done yet” but things seem to be heading in the right direction. Signing Harris would give the Chargers a capable north-south rusher, who would ostensibly assume starting duties. Current free agent, and 2024 starter, J.K. Dobbins remains unsigned.