The two-headed stable of running backs that were originally expected to headline the Los Angeles Chargers’ backfield in 2025 no longer exists.
Following injuries to veteran Najee Harris and rookie sensation Omarion Hampton, the Chargers could benefit from making a call to the Tennessee Titans to inquire about Tony Pollard ahead of the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline.
Chargers Predicted as Landing Destination for Former Pro Bowl RB
The Chargers were tabbed as one of four teams that make the most sense as a potential landing spot for Pollard.
When the Chargers signed Harris to a one-year contract this past spring and paired him with Hampton, the No. 22 overall pick, the Chargers’ running game looked as if it could be trending upward. Harris hadn’t missed a single game in four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he amassed 1,000 rushing yards each year.
It didn’t take long for those plans to go off the rails.
Harris sustained an eye injury in a July 4 fireworks accident and missed the entirety of training camp. He was cleared in time for the regular-season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs and carried the ball 15 times through three games before tearing his Achilles on Sept. 21.
With so much tread on his tires and his 28th birthday on the horizon in March, it’s fair to wonder whether or not Harris will ever be the same player again, let alone return to the Chargers in 2026.
Hampton’s outlook isn’t as bleak. The rookie tailback suffered an ankle injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve after an electric start to his first campaign in the league. He’ll be eligible to return from injured reserve after missing Sunday’s game against the Titans, which will mark his fourth.
Despite playing in just five games this season, Hampton’s 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns both still lead the team. Kimani Vidal has stepped up valiantly in Hampton’s absence, with some assistance from Hassan Haskins. Since Hampton’s injury, Vidal has surpassed 125 yards from scrimmage in two of his last three games, including 127 yards in last Thursday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.
The Chargers’ backfield isn’t exactly in dire straits, but a move for Pollard shouldn’t cost a pretty penny and would do wonders for their rushing attack. Even once Hampton is back in the mix, a three-headed tandem of Hampton, Pollard and Vidal could elevate the Chargers into the upper echelon of the top teams in the AFC. With a 5-3 record through eight weeks, one could argue that they’re not far off from that conversation already.
Tony Pollard Falling Out of Favor in Tennessee?
After a five-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys that saw Pollard amass 4,940 yards from scrimmage and 28 touchdowns, the Titans acquired him in free agency last spring. In his first season with the team, he eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground with five touchdowns to go along with his 238 receiving yards.
The Titans have been rumored to be major sellers as the deadline approaches, with their only untouchable pieces being rookie quarterback Cam Ward and longtime defensive end Jeffrey Simmons. Pollard, however, could be on the move, and it may be in the Titans’ best interests to incentivize a youth movement. Pollard, who turns 29 years old this offseason, may have his best football behind him, but it’s worth finding out if you’re the Chargers.
After missing the first four games, the Titans have been slowly ramping up Tyjae Spears and creating more opportunities for him on offense. In Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Spears logged a season-high nine carries for 59 yards and his first touchdown of the year.
In the meantime, Pollard has been going backward. He had 14 or more carries in each of the Titans’ first five games, but in their last three, he never had more than 11. That’s including six carries for 18 yards in the Oct. 19 loss to the New England Patriots.
Pollard has a PFSN RB Impact score of 74.7, tying him with Hampton and placing them both directly above Vidal’s 74.3.