Chargers' Running Back Najee Harris Set to Report with Injury Status for Team's Training Camp
**Chargers Running Back Najee Harris Expected to Return for NFL Season Following Eye Injury**
Najee Harris, the Los Angeles Chargers' second-round pick and running back, is currently recovering from a superficial eye injury sustained during a fireworks accident on July 4. As a result, he will likely begin NFL training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list.
Despite missing voluntary workouts this offseason, Harris returned for the mandatory minicamp. He has been receiving treatment at Stanford Health Care and is expected to report to the team soon.
Harris's agent, Doug Hendrickson, stated that he is "fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season." While there is no precise timeline for his return to full practice, both Harris's agent and the team are optimistic about his recovery.
In his absence, rookie Omarion Hampton may see more opportunities in training camp. Harris's injury is described as "superficial," and he is still undergoing evaluation by doctors in the Bay Area.
Meanwhile, the remaining 30 second-round picks, including Harris, are waiting for the next domino to fall in the contract negotiations. The NFL training camps are beginning soon, and the league is in a standoff that started with the Houston Texans signing a fully guaranteed contract to a second-round pick in May.
The Chargers' medical team has remained in contact with Harris and his local doctors, and they are hopeful that he will be able to return to active participation before the start of the regular season.
Other players who will miss the start of training camp include receiver Mike Williams and safety Elijah Molden, who are on the physically unable to perform list. Williams is not sidelined because of a pre-existing injury but is working back from an injury sustained during the spring. Molden missed the offseason program after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Rashawn Slater, the Chargers' offensive tackle, is also in contract negotiations for a lucrative extension. Slater did not join the team for voluntary workouts this offseason but returned for mandatory minicamp. He is due to make $19 million in the last year of his contract, the sixth-highest salary among left tackles this season.
Overall, while Harris will begin training camp on the sidelines, his chances of returning for the regular season appear positive. The Chargers will begin training camp on Thursday, and the team is optimistic about Harris's recovery and the progress of contract negotiations for both Harris and Slater.
Football season in California, and particularly Los Angeles, sees the return of Najee Harris, the Los Angeles Chargers' second-round pick and running back. Despite his superficial eye injury, Harris is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season according to his agent, and the team is optimistic about his recovery.
