Najee Harris Goes Down in Week 3
The Los Angeles Chargers suffered a potentially devastating blow on Sunday when running back Najee Harris exited the game against the Denver Broncos with what appears to be a season-ending Achilles injury.
The Chargers official designation is an ankle injury, listing him questionable to return
Midway through the second quarter, Harris lined up behind quarterback Justin Herbert, took a step forward, and suddenly collapsed to the turf without contact. Trainers rushed onto the field immediately as Harris clutched at his lower leg. He was unable to put any weight on his left side, eventually needing to be carted to the locker room.
Onlookers quickly speculated that Harris may have torn his Achilles — an injury that would sideline him for the rest of the 2025 season.
The Play and Immediate Impact
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The injury occurred on what looked like a routine snap. Herbert went on to connect with Quentin Johnston over the middle for a solid gain, but the focus quickly shifted to Harris. Even though it’s unclear whether Harris was part of a play-action fake, the outcome was the same: a stunned Chargers sideline watching a key piece of their offense being taken away.
Harris had just begun carving out a bigger role in the rotation after a slow start. His setback comes at a time when the Chargers were already experimenting with different backfield combinations under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who favors a committee approach.
What’s Next for the Chargers’ Backfield
If Harris is out long-term, the workload is expected to fall on Omarion Hampton, the team’s first-round pick. While Hampton has had his ups and downs through the opening stretch, he now becomes the lead option almost by default.
Behind him, Kimani Vidal is a candidate to move into the RB2 role, with Hassan Haskins providing depth. Practice squad backs Amar Johnson and Vidal may also factor in depending on roster moves.
The Chargers only kept three running backs after final cuts and already lost Raheim Sanders on waivers, leaving the depth chart thinner than planned. That reality could force the team to adjust — either leaning more on Herbert’s arm and a talented receiving trio, or exploring external options to stabilize the ground game.
The Bigger Picture
While the full diagnosis has yet to be confirmed, the optics suggest the Chargers will have to move forward without Harris. For a player who was just starting to earn more opportunities, it’s a cruel twist. As one league insider, The Athletic’s James Palmer, noted, the reaction from teammates and trainers made it clear the team fears the worst.
The Chargers, sitting at a pivotal point in their season, will now need to regroup quickly and adapt to life without a veteran presence in their backfield.
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