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 non-football illness or injury list throughout training camp.Hortiz’s support for Harris for Week 1, when the Chargers travel to Brazil to face the Kansas City Chiefs, is a surprise. Coach Jim Harbaugh has remained silent about Harris’s status throughout the preseason. Harris was placed on the injured list at the start of training camp after a fireworks incident on July 4th. According to Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, the incident caused a “superficial” injury to his eye. The secrecy surrounding Harris’s injury is a common practice of Harbaugh, who usually doesn’t give updates on injuries until the league requires it, which occurs in the week before Week 1. Harris ran and participated in drills for the first time this preseason on August 12. He has continued to work separately with a trainer during the last weeks of the camp. Harris appears on the field with a helmet and visor or dark glasses, which makes his eyes invisible to the spectators. The only image of his eye is a photo posted on his Snapchat on August 6, where Harris’s right eye appears to be completely closed. However, Harbaugh said that Harris can open his eye. Harris has never missed a game in his NFL career. His durability is one of the reasons he was attractive to the Chargers, and it looks like he has a legitimate chance to be on the field for the Chargers in Week 1.Najee is doing very well, going through all the medical processes. But he’s on his way, and I think he should be able to play, hopefully in Week 1.
Joe Hortiz
