The Los Angeles Chargers improved to 8-4 with their 31-14 blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13.
They remain in the thick of the AFC playoff picture and may have reinforcements on the way ahead of their Week 14 ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Rookie running back Omarion Hampton has missed seven straight games after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5 but recently returned to practice.
Hampton was the top running back for Los Angeles at the time of his injury, and a playmaker Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh could lean on. Hampton had accumulated a team-high 314 rushing yards before his injury.
The Chargers are in contention, but they’ll hope their rookie can give their offense an element it’s been missing for much of the season. The No. 22 overall pick was leading all rookies in scrimmage yards with 380 before his injury in Week 5.
Here’s the latest on the Chargers running back:
When will Omarion Hampton return?
The rookie running back had his 21-day practice window opened in Week 13.
Hampton returned to practice after the Chargers’ bye and logged three limited practices before being ruled out of Week 13.
The Chargers will have two more weeks to activate him back onto the 53-man roster. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, Harbaugh was asked about Hampton’s potential return for Week 14. “That question will be answered as the week unfolds. But what can I tell you, he’s on track and looking good,” per NFL Network.
Hampton was seen practicing in a yellow, non-contact jersey on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Harbaugh told reporters, ‘We opened his window, and we certainly wouldn’t have done that – his 21-day window – if he wasn’t close. Again, feel like he’s been on track and let the week play out,’ Harbaugh said on Monday, Dec. 1.
Hampton was placed on injured reserve after Week 5, which required him to be sidelined for at least four games. The earliest Hampton was able to return from IR was Week 10.
The Chargers host the Eagles on Monday. It remains to be seen whether Hampton will be activated for the matchup, but all signs point to a positive outcome this week.
Last week, offensive coordinator Greg Roman said he planned on using both Kimani Vidal and Hampton in a ‘1-2 punch’ shared backfield when the rookie returns.
Chargers RB depth chart
- Omarion Hampton (IR)
- Najee Harris (IR – season-ending)
- Kimani Vidal
- Hassan Haskins (IR)
- Trayveon Williams (practice squad)
- Jaret Paterson (practice squad)
Kimani Vidal has stepped up and led the backfield. He leads the backfield with 121 rushing attempts for 543 yards and three touchdowns. Vidal rumbled for 126 yards in the Chargers’ win over the Raiders, and 124 of those 126 rushing yards came after contact. He also netted a league-high 11 missed tackles forced.
The team recently placed Haskins on IR, further thinning the room. Trayveon Williams was called up from the practice squad for the Chargers’ Week 11 game against the Jaguars and was forced into action when Vidal suffered a thigh injury.
In Week 13, Los Angeles elevated Jaret Paterson from the practice squad who chipped in behind Vidal.
The team eagerly awaits the return of their first-round rookie with the running back room thin.
The Chargers host the Philadelphia Eagles on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 14.
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