Chargers' Najee Harris Participates in Exercises for Initial Time Since Sustaining Eye Injury During July 4th Incident
Najee Harris Recovering from Eye Injury, Expected to Miss Chargers' Season Opener
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris is currently recovering from a superficial eye injury sustained during a fireworks mishap on July 4. As a result, Harris has been placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list, which means he is expected to miss at least the first four games of the 2025 NFL season.
Harris, who joined the Chargers after signing a one-year deal worth $5.25 million, has been working diligently to return to the field. He was spotted participating in drills for the first time since the injury on Tuesday, but he has not yet returned to full practice.
The Chargers are preparing to manage their backfield without Harris during his recovery. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton is set to take on a significant role, while other running backs like Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Jarret Patterson, and rookie Omarion Hampton are also in contention for carries. The coaching staff has emphasized a running back committee approach rather than relying on a single lead back to carry the workload.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh has been non-committal about Harris's exact return timeline, stating, "When Najee is ready to play, Najee will be ready to play." Harris' agent has confirmed that Harris is expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season, according to ESPN.
The Chargers' season opener is against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5. Harris was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2021 draft before being traded to the Chargers in 2024. In his 68 games so far, Harris has run for 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns.
In the 2024 season, Harris led the Chargers with 905 rushing yards, while Jarret Patterson had 89 rushing yards, and Gus Edwards ran for 365 yards. Kimani Vidal added 155 rushing yards for the team.
Harris has played in and started every game since he entered the league, making his absence a significant loss for the Chargers. The team will be hoping for a speedy recovery for their star running back.
[1] ESPN. (2025). Najee Harris placed on NFI list with eye injury. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33733344
[2] NFL.com. (2025). Chargers' Najee Harris placed on NFI list with eye injury. [online] Available at: https://www.nfl.com/news/chargers-najee-harris-placed-on-nfi-list-with-eye-injury
[3] Pro Football Talk. (2025). Chargers' Najee Harris placed on NFI list with eye injury. [online] Available at: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2025/08/01/chargers-najee-harris-placed-on-nfi-list-with-eye-injury/
[4] Sports Illustrated. (2025). Chargers' Najee Harris placed on NFI list with eye injury. [online] Available at: https://www.si.com/nfl/chargers/news/chargers-najee-harris-placed-on-nfi-list-with-eye-injury
- Despite the setback, Najee Harris continues to demonstrate his dedication to sports, as he works towards recovery from his eye injury.
- The absence of Najee Harris during the beginning of the 2025 season could potentially impact the team's performance in football, particularly in the running game.
