Running back Najee Harris, who signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in March, came with a reputation for durability: a player who’s never missed an NFL game in his career.
After sitting out the entire training camp with a freak eye injury, the Chargers were slowly ramping up his workload, and Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos was his most productive outing with six carries for 28 yards. But his time on the field ended in heartbreak as Harris exited the field in the second quarter with an injury.
How Did Najee Harris Get Injured?
Harris went down during a second-down play with 5:12 minutes left in the second quarter. As he pushed off his left leg, he suddenly collapsed to the turf in what was a non-contact injury.
The Chargers’ training staff immediately attended to him, and Harris was helped off the field before being carted to the locker room. Initially, the team announced the injury as an ankle issue, but further evaluation pointed to something more serious.
Harris had previously missed the entire training camp after damage to his eye from a July 4 fireworks mishap. He suffered the setback just as he was finding his footing with the Chargers in Week 3 after limited action in Weeks 1 and 2.
Najee Harris Suffers a Season-Ending Achilles Tear
The Chargers received devastating news on Monday when tests confirmed running back Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Sunday’s game, ending his season.
“Imaging confirmed that,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’ll have to miss the season. He was really playing well. Playing great, especially on the gap scheme, he was hitting on the short-yardage plays,” Harbaugh continued. “Phenomenal pickups by him, second effort all the way.”
Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer, who analyzed the play on his YouTube channel, said replays strongly suggested an Achilles rupture, before the imaging confirmed it.
“The video clearly shows what looks like an Achilles rupture for Najee Harris,” Sutterer said. “As he steps backward, there’s eccentric loading on a maximally dorsiflexed ankle. That load cannot be maintained by the Achilles, and we see that unfortunate pop with that release of energy from the recoil upwards.”
Recovery Timeline For Najee Harris: When He Will Return From An Achilles Tear?
Achilles injuries are among the most difficult setbacks for NFL players to overcome. According to Lower Extremity Review, the average recovery window for a torn Achilles is typically 9-12 months, with the first 4-6 months focused on light activity and basic rehabilitation following surgery.
From there, players need additional time to strengthen the repaired tendon and rebuild football-specific explosiveness before returning to practice and live action.
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The best-case scenario for Harris, whose injury occurred in late September, would have him back in time for training camp in July 2026. While rare exceptions exist, such as Cam Akers’ remarkable five-and-a-half-month return in 2021, the more realistic expectation is that Harris could miss at least part of the 2026 season.
That timeline carries added weight, given that Harris is only on a one-year deal with the Chargers. That means he could hit free agency before ever taking another snap in Los Angeles.
What Najee Harris’ Injury Means for the Chargers
With Harris sidelined, rookie Omarion Hampton is set for a huge opportunity. Hampton led the Chargers with 129 scrimmage yards on 25 touches against the Broncos, showing versatility as both a runner and receiver.
Quarterback Justin Herbert relied on him heavily in the passing game to counter Denver’s fierce pass rush, and Hampton delivered with six catches for 59 yards, including a key 22-yard gain on the game-winning drive.
The depth behind Hampton is limited to Hassan Haskins and practice squad member Kimani Vidal, highlighting how critical Hampton’s performance will be in the weeks ahead. The Chargers next travel to MetLife Stadium to face the winless New York Giants in Week 4, starting Sunday, September 28 at 1 p.m. ET.
