The Chargers shifted running back Najee Harris from the non-football injury list to their active roster on Tuesday afternoon, an indication he could practice with the team later this week in preparation for the Sept. 5 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Harris was sidelined for all of the Chargers’ training camp after suffering what his agent termed a “superficial” eye injury during a July 4 fireworks accident at his home in the Bay Area city of Antioch. Harris has increased his solo drills on the sidelines over the past few weeks, though.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said last week during a TV interview that he was hopeful Harris could play against the Chiefs. Harris was one of the Chargers’ prized offseason acquisitions, signing a one-year contract worth up to $9.25 million after four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Najee is doing great, going through all the medical processes,” Hortiz said during the broadcast of the Chargers’ preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. “But he’s on track and I think he should be able to go, hopefully, in Week 1.”
Harris rushed for 1,000 yards or more in each of his four seasons with the Steelers, and he was a Pro Bowl selection after gaining 1,200 yards during his rookie year in 2021. The Chargers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Melvin Gordon gained 1,105 yards in 2017.
The Chargers haven’t provided a medical report on Harris’ injury and Coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t say one way or the other whether he believed Harris could be ready to play against the AFC West rival Chiefs. Harbaugh said last week, “When Najee is ready to play, Najee will be ready to play.”
Harris has never missed a game during his NFL career.
Improving the running game was among Hortiz’s priorities heading into his and Harbaugh’s second seasons with the Chargers. In addition to signing Harris, the Chargers also drafted a running back, Omarion Hampton of the University of North Carolina, with their first-round pick.
Harris and Hampton were enlisted to replace last season’s tandem of J.K. Dobbins, who rushed for a career-high 905 yards in 13 games, and Gus Edwards, who gained a mere 101 yards in 11 games. They were signed to replace Austin Ekeler, who signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent in 2024.
Neither Dobbins nor Edwards re-signed with the Chargers.
The Chargers made additional moves to trim their roster to 53 players by the NFL-mandated deadline of Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT. They also acquired additional help for their offensive line in the wake of left tackle Rashawn Slater’s season-ending knee injury, suffered days after signing a four-year, $114 million contract extension.
The Chargers sent the Houston Texans a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2027 in exchange for tackle Austin Deculus. They also released tackle David Sharpe and waived guard Branson Taylor, who was their sixth-round draft pick from the University of Pittsburgh.
Other noteworthy cuts included quarterbacks Taylor Heinicke and DJ Uiagalelei, running backs Raheim Sanders and Kimani Vidal, wide receivers Luke Grimm and Brenden Rice and defensive backs Tony Jefferson and Trikweze Bridges, who was their seventh-round draft pick.
Noteworthy players who made the roster after impressive showings during training camp and, especially, during the Chargers’ four preseason games, included quarterback Trey Lance, cornerbacks Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers, linebacker Marlowe Wax and edge rusher Caleb Murphy.
The Chargers also placed linebacker Junior Colson on injured reserve and designated long snapper Josh Harris and defensive back Deane Leonard to return from injured reserve. The Chargers will have to make additional moves to clear roster space for them when they are ready to play.
In addition, the Chargers can name as many as 17 players to their practice squad later this week. Several of the players they cut might be signed by other teams, however.