The Los Angeles Chargers have one more preseason tune-up before they start to get ready for Week 1 of the NFL regular season. On Saturday, they will take the field at Levi's Stadium versus the San Francisco 49ers for their final exhibition game.
Per NBC's Pro Football Talk, coach Jim Harbaugh will not play his starters on Saturday. Trey Lance, the former 49ers quarterback, will start under center, and it will be an opportunity for some of L.A.'s young second and third-stringers to prove that they can contribute.
But even though quite a few people expect the Chargers to be very competitive this season, the team is facing injury problems. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston suffered a concussion in last weekend's preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, and starting running back Najee Harris is still recovering from a freak mishap on the Fourth of July.
While celebrating our nation's birthday, Harris suffered an eye injury resulting from the use of fireworks. Harbaugh was asked for an update on the tailback, and he gave an update without giving an update.
"When Najee's ready to play he'll be ready to play," the coach said. "To take it past today would be going over the legal limit."
Harris has been doing some light work during training camp lately, but he doesn't appear to be nearing a return. The Chargers will begin their regular season exactly two weeks from Friday on Sept. 5 when they host the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
He's essentially replacing J.K. Dobbins, who was their starter last year and ran for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. Harris spent each of his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he went over 1,000 rushing yards each year and peaked at 1,200 rushing yards as a rookie in 2021.
Harbaugh has always won by playing old-school, pound-and-ground football, but his options behind Harris aren't very attractive. But it could be an opportunity for Omarion Hampton, L.A.'s first-round draft pick this year. He posted 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground last year while at the University of North Carolina.
In the team's first preseason game versus the Detroit Lions on July 31, Hampton took two carries and gained nine yards. He didn't play in either of its last two exhibition contests.
For more on the Chargers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.