Is Najee Harris playing tonight? Chargers RB off to quiet start against Chiefs

Mike Moraitis

Is Najee Harris playing tonight? Chargers RB off to quiet start against Chiefs image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Chargers have played multiple drives in the Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs and we have yet to see running back Najee Harris.

Harris was signed in free agency to be the team's lead back. But things changed a bit after Los Angeles spent a first-round pick on Omarion Hampton, who got the start on Friday night against the Chiefs.

With the first quarter almost over, Harris has yet to see the field. So, what gives? Here's what we know so far.

Is Najee Harris playing tonight?

UPDATE: Harris has his first touch of his Chargers career. It came on a five-yard pass from quarterback Justin Herbert.

Harris is officially on the board!

END OF UPDATE

It has been mostly Hampton getting the rock early on, but Harris finally got his first snap at the end of the first quarter. He did not get a touch on the snap, though.

What was strange is third-string running back Hassan Haskins got a snap before Harris did.

Perhaps the Chargers are just easing Harris in after he missed a ton of time, but the early returns haven't been good for him with the lack of snaps in the first quarter.

According to ESPN's Nate Taylor, Harris was expected to start earlier this week, but head coach Jim Harbaugh told Rich Eisen that Hampton was going to start instead.

And that's exactly how things played out, as Hampton got the nod to begin the game, and he has dominated running back touches early on.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.