The Los Angeles Chargers are aiming to build on the foundation set in Jim Harbaugh’s first season at the helm. Improvement in 2025 will be measured not only by a potential AFC West title but also by how deep this team can push into the postseason. That quest begins with clarity in the backfield — and this week brought both questions and answers.
Najee Harris, the veteran running back signed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal this offseason, took part in football drills for the first time in training camp on Tuesday. Harris worked off to the side with an athletic trainer, running and handling the ball, as ESPN’s Kris Rhim observed. It marked a positive step in his recovery from an eye injury suffered in a July 4 fireworks accident, which landed him on the non-football injury/illness list.
Still, Harbaugh isn’t ready to guarantee Harris will be available when the Chargers open the season on Sept. 5 against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. “Noncommittal” has been the consistent message from the head coach when asked about the former Steeler’s Week 1 status.
Roman’s contingency plan
If Harris isn’t ready, offensive coordinator Greg Roman already has a backup plan. Speaking to Rhim, Roman revealed that rookie Omarion Hampton will rotate with another back to lead the rushing attack.
“Greg Roman said that even if Najee Harris isn’t ready to go Week 1, RB Omarion Hampton will rotate with another back,” Rhim reported. “Who that other back is, Roman says is wide open.”
That competition is likely to feature 2024 draft pick Kimani Vidal and former Michigan Wolverine Hassan Haskins. Either player could serve as a complementary option, but the bigger intrigue lies in how much of the load Hampton can handle if thrust into the lead role.
A Chargers rookie with big-play potential
The Chargers drafted Hampton in the first round (22nd overall) this spring with the expectation that he and Harris would form a balanced one-two punch. Harris brings proven durability — 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four seasons with Pittsburgh — while Hampton offers explosiveness and home-run ability that the Chargers sorely need.
Last year, Los Angeles ranked 17th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (110.7). Upgrading that production is central to Harbaugh’s blueprint. Hampton, a former North Carolina standout, could accelerate that improvement if given the opportunity to lead early.
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