Fans of the Los Angeles Chargers may have to wait longer to see veteran running back Najee Harris in action, as he is likely to miss Week 1 amid ongoing injury recovery. The Chargers are poised to start the season with Harris sidelined, while other running backs fill out the active 53-man roster.
Recent projections, including those by The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, suggest Harris has not advanced sufficiently in his rehab to be ready for the opener, which could mean he will start on the non-football injury (NFI) list and miss up to four games.
Running Back Roles Shaping Up Without Harris
The Chargers’ handling of Hassan Haskins offers insight into the running back depth chart for the season’s early weeks. Haskins has maintained his spot, while players like Kimani Vidal and other potential cuts have been actively competing for backup roles. Currently, first-round rookie Omarion Hampton appears set to assume the primary workload in Harris’s absence, supported by Haskins and undrafted Raheim Sanders rotating in as needed.
The Chargers had hoped Harris’s experienced, consistent playing style would ease Hampton’s transition into the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL. Instead, Hampton will take on a heavier role from the start as Harris’s return remains uncertain.
Challenges and Future Outlook for Chargers’ Backfield
Najee Harris’s delayed start is a setback for the Chargers, who counted on his reliability to provide both stability and rest for their promising rookie, Omarion Hampton. The uncertainty surrounding Harris’s timetable casts a shadow over the team’s rushing attack early in the season.
While Harris continues his recovery off the field, the Chargers will rely on younger and less proven backs to carry the load. The decision to place Harris on NFI means he will not occupy a spot on the 53-man roster initially, signaling the team’s cautious approach to his health.
The Chargers‘ early-season performance will hinge on how well Hampton and the other running backs manage the increased responsibilities, setting the tone for when Harris eventually returns to contribute.
Insights from Daniel Popper on Harris’s Status
“Harris has shown progress this week, going through football drills off to the side of practice. But I have not seen nearly enough progress at this point to think he will be ready for Week 1. That could change. For now, I am predicting that he starts the season on NFI, which means he would not count toward the 53-man and would be forced to miss the first four games of the season.”
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic