Jim Harbaugh’s vision for the Los Angeles Chargers offense was clear: establish the run, control the clock, and build on last season’s success. But sometimes football throws unexpected curveballs that have nothing to do with X’s and O’s.
A Fourth of July fireworks accident sidelined newly acquired running back Najee Harris just as training camp was getting underway, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their carefully laid plans.
How Much Longer Will Chargers RB Najee Harris Be Out?
The Chargers exceeded expectations in Harbaugh’s first year as head coach. Brought in to rebuild the team for the future, Harbaugh delivered results right away, leading Los Angeles to an 11-6 regular season record and a playoff berth in 2024.
Throughout the offseason, the franchise’s moves made their intentions crystal clear: they intended to build on what worked the previous year. The signing of Harris and the drafting of Omarion Hampton pointed toward a run-heavy approach, a hallmark of Harbaugh’s teams and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
However, those plans are on hold following Harris’s unfortunate accident, while Hampton could see a significant workload early in the 2025-26 season. Harbaugh shared that Harris is feeling better and has started walking laps as part of his recovery from the eye injury, though there’s still no timetable for his return.
Harbaugh: Najee Harris (eye) getting better; walking laps as part of rehab.
He still has no timeline for return.
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 4, 2025
The injury opens the door for Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal to see increased reps during the preseason. Still, Hampton is expected to lead the backfield and handle the bulk of the carries this season, even after Harris returns to the rotation.
What Happened During Harris’s July 4th Incident?
The Chargers running back, who spent the last four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, narrowly avoided a serious injury during a Fourth of July celebration. Harris was involved in a fireworks accident that injured several people but left him with only a minor eye injury.
The team’s cautious approach reflects the severity of eye injuries in football. Vision is everything for a running back who needs to read blocks, find holes, and avoid defenders at full speed.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz addressed Harris’s status last week, emphasizing their methodical approach to his recovery.
“He’s doing better every day,” Hortiz said. “He’s dealing with it, he’s getting better. We’re going to be cautious and precautions [sic] with it and let him get healthy. There’s no rush — it’s early. We came into camp early, we got a long preseason to go so there’s no sense in rushing anyone out there.”
“We’re always looking at talent.”@Chargers GM Joe Hortiz provided an update on RB Najee Harris and discussed the possibility of signing DT Christian Wilkins.
📻 https://t.co/kBK033ZTbp #Chargers | #BoltUp | @AmberTheoharis pic.twitter.com/4GlaJRBllu
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 28, 2025
Harris has been present at camp in a limited capacity, spotted wearing sunglasses and staying off the practice field during drills.
This approach aligns with the team’s plan to slowly reintegrate him rather than risk further setbacks. The Chargers know they have a long season ahead, and rushing back their veteran running back could backfire if his vision isn’t completely healed.
Meanwhile, Hampton gets valuable reps with the first-team offense, experience that could prove crucial whether Harris returns in two weeks or two months. The rookie has impressed coaches with his vision and power, traits that fit perfectly in Roman’s ground-heavy system.
