Chargers RB Najee Harris to miss the remainder of 2025 season with Achilles injury

On a play-action attempt, Chargers running back Najee Harris went down awkwardly before the fake handoff could unfold, clutching his left ankle in agony and flinging his helmet aside.

Trainers rushed to his aid, helping him off as he couldn't put weight on the leg, before he was carted to the locker room in the second quarter of Sunday's 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium.

Harris, who had already overcome an offseason eye injury suffered in a fireworks accident, was expected to be a cornerstone of a backfield tandem with rookie Omarion Hampton. But head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed postgame that the veteran appears to have suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. 

With Harris sidelined, the door has swung wide open for rookie Omarion Hampton to stake his claim as the Chargers’ primary running back moving forward. He wasted no time seizing the moment once Harris left the field. Before the setback, Harris was sharp, churning out 28 yards on six carries. But once he exited, Hampton took full control, delivering his most impressive outing yet — 19 rushes for 70 yards and a score, plus six receptions for 59 yards, totaling 21.9 fantasy points.

This development all but locks Hampton in as a strong RB1/2 option across formats. At the very least, his workload should be steady, with 15–20 touches per game — if not more — well within reach.

The real question is whether Los Angeles looks to bolster the depth chart. Hassan Haskins is the only other true back currently active, while wideout Derius Davis chipped in with a carry against Denver. Meanwhile, Kimani Vidal and Nyheim Hines remain stashed on the practice squad and could be promoted ahead of Week 4. The Chargers might also explore free agency or the trade market to ensure Hampton has support behind him.

Before the setback, Harris looked sharp with six carries for 28 yards. Remarkably durable until now, he had played all 71 games across his first five NFL seasons. If the Achilles is fully torn, experts note recovery timelines can stretch from eight to twelve months, with skill players often needing even longer to regain peak explosiveness.

With Harris sidelined, the spotlight now turns to Hampton, who has leaned on Harris as a mentor. The rookie admitted losing him is tough, but he’ll be asked to take on a much larger role as the season unfolds.