Perhaps the biggest questions facing the Chargers during their spring workouts were whether Bradley Bozeman would hold onto his starting position at center or whether he and left guard Zion Johnson would flip spots by the time the season started Sept. 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Now, with training camp beginning Thursday in El Segundo, there are more puzzles to be solved among the Chargers’ offensive players, not least of which is the extent of running back Najee Harris’ eye injury suffered during a fireworks mishap July 4 in his hometown of Antioch.
The Chargers declined comment last week. Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, said in a statement that his client is “fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.” But that didn’t resolve the issue of whether Harris would be able to participate in any, all or none of training camp.
Hendrickson described the injury as “superficial,” but that could mean all manner of things, and it left open the possibility (likelihood?) that Harris must wear protective goggles during practices and games in order to prevent further injury to one of the body’s most sensitive areas.
Is it possible the Chargers will place Harris on the injured list?
Furthermore, what might Harris’ potential absence do for the Chargers’ depth chart at running back, one of their most important positions on offense? Will Omarion Hampton, the Chargers’ first-round draft pick from the University of North Carolina, be ready to take on an enhanced role?
The Chargers’ signed Harris to a one-year, $9.5-million contract March 10 because they sought to improve their ground game. Harris rushed for 1,000 yards or more in each of his four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a stellar career at the University of Alabama.
In addition to his consistency, Harris’ durability also attracted the Chargers to him. They viewed him and Hampton as an upgrade from the J.K. Dobbins-Gus Edwards tandem of last season. Dobbins rushed for a career-high 905 yards in 13 games and might have topped 1,000 if not for an injury.
Dobbins signed with the Denver Broncos in the offseason.
Hampton rushed for 1,500 yards or more plus 15 touchdowns in each of his final two seasons at North Carolina, ranking fourth all-time in Tar Heels history with 3,565 yards in only three years. He was named first team All-ACC in 2023 and ‘24 and was a Doak Walker finalist both seasons.
So, what can he do for the Chargers, especially in light of Harris’ injury?
Some of the answers lie in how well the offensive line performs in front of Hampton and Harris. Shifting positions on the interior of the line will likely improve the Chargers’ ground game. The Chargers averaged 4.1 yards per attempt during the 2024 season, up from 3.8 in the previous season.
The Chargers signed Mekhi Becton from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and slotted him at right guard next to right tackle Joe Alt, their first-round draft pick in 2024. They also experimented with Johnson at center and Bozeman at left guard during OTAs and minicamp.
What’s more, left tackle Rashawn Slater, a Pro Bowl selection twice in his four-year career, is eligible for a contract extension. He said last month he wasn’t concerned that negotiations hadn’t resulted in a fat new deal, but was content to let his agent do the talking with GM Joe Hortiz.
The Chargers’ last two significant extensions were completed and announced in due course. Quarterback Justin Herbert signed his new contract on the eve of training camp in 2023 and safety Derwin James Jr. signed his extension a week into the start of camp one year earlier.
Last but certainly not least, rookie wide receiver Tre’ Harris is one of 30 second-round draft picks who haven’t signed their contracts. Harris, from the University of Mississippi, was a no-show Saturday when the Chargers’ other rookies were required to report for the start of camp, according to reports.
The Cleveland Browns’ Carson Schwesinger and the Houston Texans’ Jayden Higgins, the top two picks in the second round of the draft, signed their contracts in May, but two months have passed and the remaining 30 selections in that round remain unsigned in disputes over contract guarantees.
How long Harris goes unsigned remains to be determined.
Stay tuned. It might be a bumpy ride.