Each year, it seems a player is injured off the field in a bizarre and untimely accident. This year, Najee Harris fell victim to a non-football-related injury, as he was caught up in a firework accident on the 4th of July.
This is a similar headline to Jason Pierre-Paul’s accident, which occurred 10 years before the date of Harris’ incident. JPP was involved in a firework accident that caused severe damage to his right hand. The defensive end would eventually have no choice but to amputate multiple fingers. Harris’ situation is slightly different, as he is dealing with an eye injury, as opposed to a hand injury. Still, the nature of the two injuries is eerily similar.
After JK Dobbins had a great comeback year in Los Angeles, the team decided to move on from him and opt for a different back. On March 12th, the team signed Harris to a one-year “prove it” deal. The Alabama product finished his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he was a good piece, but didn’t nearly live up to the hype of his first-round selection.
The Chargers weren’t done beefing up the backfield yet, as they selected RB Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina in the first round of the draft. Hampton was widely regarded as the second-best back in the draft. Following this selection, it was inferred that the two would split touches in the backfield for the 2025 season.
As mentioned, the veteran RB sustained an injury on the 4th of July in a firework accident, but to the eye. This sets up an odd scenario, as NFL players seldom deal with eye injuries. The Chargers placed Harris on the Non-Football Injury list (NFI) to start training camp.
While it was expected that Harris would take some time to recoup, the Chargers have dealt with the situation in a way that’s concerning. The RB wasn’t seen for weeks after the incident, and the team released almost no information surrounding his status during this time. The worry stems from how vague Los Angeles is about Harris and how little they are willing to share about the freak injury. This is leading many to believe things are far worse than the team is letting on, which is becoming more likely each day.
In a move that was aimed at silencing some of these concerns, Harris made his first appearance at training camp on Thursday. This can’t be considered good news, as Harris was shrouded from the public, as he wore sunglasses and a hood the entirety of his appearance. While it’s certainly sunny there, Los Angeles isn’t exactly known for its cold July weather. The fact that Harris was so concerned with hiding the injury causes more speculation than his appearance at camp was aimed to ease.
So, what’s next in this saga? Who knows. It’s unfortunate, but the bizarre nature of this injury, combined with the secrecy of the Chargers, is more than enough to cause concern about Harris’ health and future with the team. After securing a playoff berth last year, Los Angeles was looking to finally take the next step with their new backfield. Instead, it looks like Hampton will be the feature back for the bolts. It’s possible Harris is just taking his time and being cautious, but all signs point away from that as of now.
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