Najee Harris injury update: Full diagnosis revealed for Los Angeles Chargers RB

Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) running back Najee Harris did, in fact, suffer a season-ending torn Achilles in Sunday’s 23-20 Week 3 home win over the Denver Broncos (1-2). Harris underwent imaging which confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday.

The injury occurred in the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Quarterback Justin Herbert went for a play action fake to Harris, who immediately fell to the turf at SoFi Stadium. Harris grabbed the back of his lower left leg, signaling that it was an Achilles injury.

Harris, 27, is in his fifth season in the NFL and first with the Chargers after signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract this past offseason. Working in a tandem alongside rookie tailback Omarion Hampton, Harris rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries. He came into the season having never missed a game in his career due to injury. Now, he’ll look to return for the start of the 2026 campaign.

“It’s always too tough to lose a brother like that,” Herbert said after the game. “And I think you never want to see that from any of your own players or an opponent. We’re wishing for the best.”

Chargers get bad news on Najee Harris

Harris started training camp on the non-football injury/illness list after injuring his eye in a Fourth of July fireworks mishap. He was able to play in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs (1-2), though his role was minimal as he worked his way back into playing shape. The Chargers had been increasing his workload since, and he was expected to see his most action yet in Sunday’s game against the Broncos.

With Harris sidelined for much of the afternoon, Hampton had his best game in his short career thus far. Hampton finished with 129 yards from scrimmage and his first career touchdown. Hampton said after the game that he texted Harris and wished him a speedy recovery.

“I definitely got to step up,” Hampton said, via Kris Rhim of ESPN.

Harbaugh was fired up about Hampton’s performance. With no Harris, Hampton will have every opportunity to prove he was worth the first-round pick the Chargers used on him in this year’s NFL Draft.

“Man, what a game he had. How about that?” Harbaugh said. “He put that work in today, and he was running with a purpose. Gritty performance by him. Just always lunging forward, surging forward.”