Najee Harris Injury News Promising For Ex-Steelers’ Week 1 Status

The Los Angeles Chargers begin their 2025 regular season when they face the Kansas City Chiefs at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Starting running back Najee Harris’ Week 1 status is still up in the air, but Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz gave an optimistic update on Saturday night.

“Najee’s doing great, going through all the medical processes,” Hortiz said, according to a report by ESPN’s Kris Rhim. “But he’s on track, and I think he should be able to go, hopefully in Week 1.”

Harris suffered a “superficial eye injury” during a July Fourth fireworks accident and has been on the non-football injury list since then.

Rhim noted that Hortiz’ words were slightly different from head coach Jim Harbaugh’s on Thursday.

“When Najee’s ready to play, he’ll be ready to play,” Harbaugh said at the time. “Right now, to take it past today would be going over the legal limit.”

Hortiz said in late July that the former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler was “doing better every day” and “getting better.”

Harbaugh said in early August that there was no timetable for Harris’ return.

Per Rhim’s report, the Alabama product “ran and participated in drills for the first time this preseason on Aug. 12.”

“He has continued to work off to the side with an athletic trainer for the final weeks of camp. Harris appears on the field with a helmet and visor or dark glasses making his eyes invisible to onlookers,” Rhim added.

Harris signed a one-year contract with Los Angeles in March after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Steelers. He posted at least 1,000 rushing yards and six touchdowns in each campaign with Pittsburgh and was a Pro Bowler during his 2021 rookie season.

Harris has been one of the most durable backs in the NFL this decade, suiting up in all 68 regular season contests since entering the league.

He finished seventh in the NFL in rushing attempts last season with 263 and 10th in touches with 299.

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