The Los Angeles Chargers made a big move in free agency this offseason, signing former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris. Hoping he would be a massive part of the team’s offense, questions have popped up about his early-season availability. An eye injury suffered around the Fourth of July has kept Harris out of training camp. […]
The Los Angeles Chargers made a big move in free agency this offseason, signing former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris. Hoping he would be a massive part of the team’s offense, questions have popped up about his early-season availability. An eye injury suffered around the Fourth of July has kept Harris out of training camp.
Progress has continued to have been made on Wednesday, though. NFL Network’s Bridget Condon revealed that Harris is indeed at Chargers practice working off to the side, running with a weighted vest on.
This news comes one day after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Harris had participated in drills with a football for the first time this training camp, doing so off to the side with an athletic trainer during Tuesday’s practice.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours July 5 in Antioch, California. Police said some injuries were treated at the scene while others were hospitalized. Bay Area News Group reported that Harris went to John Muir Hospital in Concord for treatment before later going to Stanford Hospital.
Harris’ agent Doug Hendrickson confirmed the former Alabama star was present at the time of the explosion. He suffered a “superficial eye injury” and the expectation is he will be ready for the 2025 season.
“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” Hendrickson said in a statement. “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”
Harris is expected to be ready for the upcoming season
Six men and a 13-year-old boy were injured in the explosion, which occurred at an apartment complex, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Harris signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in free agency this offseason worth $9.25 million. He started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers after they selected him with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Martinez, CA native topped 1,000 yards each season in Pittsburgh, including a career-best 1,200 yards as a rookie in 2021 to earn his lone Pro Bowl appearance. All told, he ran for 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns with the Steelers while adding 1,149 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the air. The Steelers didn’t pick up his fifth-year option, which set him up for free agency this offseason as he joined Greg Roman’s offense with the Chargers.
“I think some questions regarding Najee Harris’ availability is fair,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said back on July 14. “My understanding of where he stands is he is not expected to miss significant time. Now, there was a fireworks incident, it does sound like some damage — “superficial” was the word that his agent Doug Hendrickson used. But from what I understand, this will be someone on the field sooner rather than later and is not expected to miss games.”
The Chargers open the regular season on Sept. 5 against the reigning AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.
Category: Football
