Najee Harris suffers season-ending Achilles injury in Chargers-Broncos game
Non-contact left-leg rupture during the second quarter against Denver ends Harris's first season with Los Angeles; Harris joined the Chargers this offseason after four seasons with the Steelers.
Najee Harris's season appears to be over after a non-contact injury against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, with Chargers officials quickly ruling the injury as severe and likely season-ending.
The injury occurred with 5:16 left in the second quarter on a play in which Harris lined up behind quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert faked the handoff, and Harris immediately went down grabbing his left foot. A replay appeared to show him pushing off his left leg before a shockwave ran up his leg. He was carted off the field and did not return. The Chargers initially said he was questionable to return with an ankle injury, but he was later downgraded to out.
Harris, 27, joined the Chargers in the offseason after four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was expected to share the backfield with Omarion Hampton. Harris rushed for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, and he had not missed a game since his rookie season.
In the 2025 season opener against the Chiefs in Brazil, he carried for 28 yards on six carries before leaving the game, a start that had hinted at a meaningful role in Los Angeles' backfield before the injury.
Earlier this offseason Harris suffered a serious eye injury in a Fourth of July fireworks mishap.
The Chargers face a sudden vacancy in the backfield, and the team will lean on depth in the position as the season unfolds. The latest projections suggested Harris will miss the remainder of the 2025 season, with a return not expected until 2026 at the earliest.
For now, Omarion Hampton and other backs will be tasked with carrying the load as Los Angeles navigates the challenge of replacing a featured player who helped the team reach the playoffs in recent seasons.