Najee Harris Could Be Ready for Week 1 Against the Chargers
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz expressed his optimism about running back Najee Harris’ participation in Week 1 of the season. Harris has been on the injured/ill list outside of football throughout training camp, following an incident with fireworks on July 4th.Hortiz’s statement about Harris for Week 1, when the Chargers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, is somewhat surprising. Coach Jim Harbaugh had not committed to Harris’s status throughout the entire preseason. On Thursday, Harbaugh reiterated that he had no update on the running back.“Najee is doing very well, going through all the medical processes,” Hortiz said during an appearance on CBS during the Chargers’ last preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. “But he’s on track, and I think he should be able to play, hopefully in Week 1.”
Joe Hortiz, Chargers general manager
According to Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, the July 4th fireworks incident caused a “superficial” eye injury. However, the Chargers have not publicly described the injury at all. The secrecy surrounding it is standard practice for Harbaugh, who doesn’t provide updates on virtually any injury until the league requires it, which doesn’t happen until the week before Week 1. Instead, Harbaugh often tells reporters that he is not a doctor and is not qualified to give injury updates. Harris ran and participated in drills for the first time this preseason on August 12. He has continued to work separately with an athletic trainer during the final weeks of training camp. Harris appears on the field with a helmet and a visor or dark glasses, making his eyes invisible to spectators. The only image of his eye is a photo posted on his Snapchat account on August 6, where Harris’s right eye appears to be closed. Harbaugh, however, has said that Harris can open the eye. Harris has never missed a game in his NFL career. His durability is one of the reasons the former Steelers player was attractive to the Chargers, and now it looks like he has a legitimate chance to be on the field for the Chargers in Week 1.“When Najee is ready to play, he will be ready to play,” Harbaugh said. “Right now, going beyond today would be exceeding the legal limit.”
Jim Harbaugh, Chargers coach
