Kimani Vidal
Getty
LA Chargers running back Kimani Vidal
After having a breakout year, the Los Angeles Chargers have announced that they have placed the exclusive rights tender (ERFA) on running back Kimani Vidal.
According to the NFL website, this tender is for any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
Running backs Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris were set to share the snaps in Los Angeles, but both players were dealing with injuries that sidelined them (Harris suffered a season-ending injury).
Enter Vidal, who played well in his limited time as RB1. In the season, the running back logged 643 rushing yards and crossed the endzone 3 times, while having 136 recieving yards and a touchdown catch.
Harris was on a one-year deal and is set to become a free agent in a few days, meaning Kimani Vidal will likely share the snaps with Hampton under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Extending Two Players
Jaret Patterson
GettyThe Chargers have agreed to a contract extension with two players
The Los Angeles Chargers have also agreed to contract extensions with two more players.
LA has agreed to a contract extension with running back Jaret Patterson, who was on a one-year deal with the organization.
In the 2025 season, Patterson recorded 159 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The player was also used as a kick returner for the Chargers.
The Bolts also agreed to extend safety Kendall Williamson. The defender recorded 13 tackles in the 2025 season while playing in all 17 games for the organization.
LA has around $95 million in cap space and are expected to be a big spender when the legal tampering period opens up in a few days.
Mike McDaniel on the Run Game
Mike McDaniel
GettyMike McDaniel replaced Greg Roman as offensive coordinator
When deciding where to find his next coaching spot, Mike McDaniel mentioned that the Los Angeles Chargers had a lot of attractive things going on with the team.
In his introductory press conference, McDaniel mentioned that head coach Jim Harbaugh likes to run the ball and revealed how his coaching experience can help going forward.
“I am, you know, by trade, I spent a good portion of my career being in charge of the run game and being a run game coordinator,” McDaniel said, via the NFL. “I think that you’re always playing to your skill sets… I think some of my run game prowess in the past has been finding different solutions for light boxes when you’re adept to pass to run the ball.”
“I think Jim appreciates the evolution of the game and different ways that you can try to attack how people are defending you, and that’s always evolving. And that hunger and thirst for that is something that I’ve always had in my back pocket, pushing me forward.”
With how the new OC is talking about building the offense, Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal are set up to have a strong partnership next season.