The Los Angeles Chargers made major changes to their running back room entering 2025. Los Angeles let its leading rusher, J.K. Dobbins, walk in free agency—he eventually signed with the Denver Broncos—and drafted Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles also added veteran Najee Harris, who has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris was expected to be the team's lead running back, but an eye injury suffered on July 4 has cast doubt on his availability for the season opener.
MORE: Chargers' Najee Harris eye injury update provides key news
Ahead of this week's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Harris was cleared for contact and practiced full-time for the first time last week. He addressed the media on Monday in Los Angeles before the team heads to Brazil.
Harris told reporters he is ramping up and expects to play against Kansas City.
Najee Harris just spoke for a few minutes, said he’s expecting to play Friday but is “ramping up to it” and “see where it raises us.”
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) September 1, 2025
Video: pic.twitter.com/F0OoLWvMDC
Here's what to know about Harris before Los Angeles' opener on Friday.
What happened to Najee Harris' eye?
Harris sustained his eye injury during a fireworks mishap on the Fourth of July in his hometown of Antioch, California. According to a statement released by his agent, Harris was at an event where a fireworks accident resulted in injuries to several attendees, and he suffered what was described as a "superficial" eye injury as a result.
Harris said his vision was unaffected by the injury, but it did alter his preparation as he joined a new team.
"Recovering, staying in shape, trying to stay on top of the playbook," Harris said. "Just trying to have the same resume while being from a different position. Obviously I was on NFI, so it kind of makes things a little more difficult, can't be on the field and stuff. Just trying to have the same schedule, just not with the team."
Najee Harris fireworks incident injury
When speaking to reporters earlier in the week, Harris declined to specify how his eye injury occurred. The 27-year-old wore sunglasses during the media scrum, which he also declined to comment on.
The injury caused Harris to miss all of training camp and the preseason with the Chargers.
MORE: Chargers' Omarion Hampton RB battle with Najee Harris gets huge update
"I’m still going through it in a way," Harris said in a video by ESPN's Kris Rhim. "Just that whole situation really shows how things can change with a snap of a finger. It’s a blessing every day we wake up, and I’m just happy that everybody’s safe and alive.”
Is Najee Harris cleared for contact?
Harris has been practicing with the team since being activated from the non-football injury list, and he was officially cleared for contact on Monday. The running back said he is "ramping up" to play in Friday's game against the Chiefs.
When asked about Harris, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said there is a "possibility" the running back plays in the team's opener.
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"He's looked good in practice," Harbaugh said. "[He] has a really good awareness of what we're doing, the situations. Physically, he's done very well as well."