Najee Harris Injury Update: When Will RB Return to Chargers?
It was not too long ago that Najee Harris was one of the first running backs off the board in fantasy football. Now, Harris is at the crossroads of his career as he is employed by a new team and currently sidelined by an eye injury caused by a fireworks incident this summer. Fantasy football owners and Los Angeles Chargers fans are now looking for an update as to when Harris will return and be back on the field. Below, we will deliver a timeline on when we expect Harris to play this season.
🚑 When will Najee Harris return and be back with the Chargers?
Harris narrowly avoided a career-ending eye injury in the early hours of July 5 as a fireworks explosion injured several people. The 27-year-old ultimately suffered a “superficial” eye injury that was deemed minor.
The Chargers have been vague about the injury, but it is believed that Harris suffered a corneal abrasion. Minor corneal abrasions take just one or two days to recover from. More significant abrasions can take around a week to recover from.
Harris has been seen in sunglasses at Chargers training camp and has been walking laps around the field. He remains on the active/non-football injury list, however, and cannot practice in full until the tag is lifted.
If Harris is still on the NFI list after roster cutdown, he will have to miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
Harris’ situation is certainly one to monitor over the next few weeks if you are considering drafting him in a fantasy football league. It is likely that Harris will be ready and cleared to play in Week 1 of the NFL season for the Chargers, but it is not yet definite.
We will provide Harris injury updates here throughout fantasy football draft season.
Assuming Harris is ready for Week 1, here is a look at the Chargers schedule in September and early October.
- Friday, September 5: Kansas City Chiefs at LA Chargers
- Monday, September 15: LA Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Sunday, September 21: Denver Broncos at LA Chargers
- Sunday, September 28: LA Chargers at New York Giants
- Sunday, October 5: Washington Commanders at LA Chargers
⏳ How long will Najee Harris be out for?
All indications are that Harris will be cleared to play Week 1 of the NFL regular season when the Chargers face the Chiefs. It is possible that liability issues centered around the fireworks incident, that injured several other people, is the reason behind Harris still being sidelined.
As mentioned above, Harris' eye injury itself was initially described as minor.
🏈 Najee Harris fantasy football draft position
Harris’ fantasy football stock has never been this low. It is mostly centered around the lingering concerns about this eye injury, but it also has to do with the presence of Chargers rookie Omarion Hampton. Hampton was a first-round draft pick of the Chargers and is projected as the team’s No. 1 RB.
Still, Harris is currently owned in 70 percent of Yahoo fantasy football leagues.
Based on current fantasy football mock drafts, Hampton is typically going in the RB 11-16 range and in the third or fourth round of a 12-team league.
Harris is around RB 40-48 in most fantasy leagues and is typically going in the 11th or 12th round of a 12-team league.
🏆 Chargers betting odds
The Chargers are projected to be one of the top teams in the AFC. Jim Harbaugh’s crew currently has around +2300 Super Bowl odds at the best NFL betting sites.
NFL Playoff odds show the Chargers with a -134 price to make the cut and a +110 number to miss the postseason.
Los Angeles’ season long NFL win total projection currently sits at 9.5 wins at most sportsbooks.
