LA Chargers First-Round Pick’s Injury is Reshaping the Team’s Offensive Strategy
As the Los Angeles Chargers enter Week Ten with a 6-3 record and rank 16th in the league after winning against the Tennessee Titans, the team is adjusting without rookie Omarion Hampton. He will be unable to return this week to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium. Currently, this is the fifth week without the 22-year-old in the backfield. In Week Five against the Washington Commanders in the third quarter, he sprained his left ankle and has been on injured reserve since October 5th. He exited the field in a walking boot, and the team placed him on injured reserve the following day, requiring a four-game absence at minimum.
Hampton was the Chargers' first-round pick, and 22nd pick overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft. Before his injury, he led a promising breakout season by leading the team with 66 carries for 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he had 136 receiving yards on 20 catches. Earlier this week, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reported that head coach Jim Harbaugh does not expect Hampton’s activation window to open until after the team’s Week 12 bye, when they face the Las Vegas Raiders. Originally, it was disclosed that Hampton would need to recover for approximately four to eight weeks before he would be cleared.
During Hampton’s absence, second-year player Kimani Vidal has stepped up during the last four games. He averages 5.2 yards per carry on 78 attempts for 412 yards and three touchdowns since Week Six. Also, he has tallied 15 catches for 98 yards and has handled 55-60% of carries in recent outings. For now, Vidal remains the only healthy running back on the roster and a reliable force supporting quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert has been the team’s leading rusher in three of the five games Hampton has been absent from. Unfortunately, injuries have thinned the Chargers’ running back group. Najee Harris was ruled out earlier this season with an Achilles injury, while Hassan Haskins sustained a hamstring injury in Week Seven that will sideline him for at least four games. That timetable makes Week Fourteen the earliest Haskins could be reactivated.
In the future, the Chargers will rely on Vidal and their aerial game while they wait for Hampton to recover. The rookie's return has the potential to restore much-needed strength and stability to Los Angeles' running game as they head into the season's final phase. With Harbaugh's careful strategy, the team is optimistic that Hampton can return to the roster after the Week 12 bye, contributing to their playoff ambitions. His return would not only enhance the offense but also reinforce that same confidence the Chargers had in their first-round selection as a key player for the franchise's future.
