Omarion Hampton, Chargers Player, to Injured Reserve with Ankle Injury
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton will be placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, according to coach Jim Harbaugh.
This situation will force him to miss at least the next four games.
Hampton suffered the injury during a play on fourth down and two yards to go, with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter in the Chargers’ 27-10 loss against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. On the play, the rookie tripped over Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu and limped off. Hampton did not return to the game and left the stadium with a walking boot on his left foot.
The Chargers selected Hampton at the 22nd position in this year’s draft and signed veteran running back Najee Harris during the offseason, with the goal of building a ground attack that would define Harbaugh’s teams. However, Harris suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon that cost him the season in Week 3, and now Hampton will be out of action.
Hampton had been in a good moment since Harris’ injury and was perhaps the most important offensive player for the Chargers, after Justin Herbert. This season, Hampton has rushed for 314 yards and two touchdowns. He has also achieved 20 receptions and 136 receiving yards.
Since Week 3, Hampton is third in the NFL in yards from the line of scrimmage, behind Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. The rookie seemed on his way to another outstanding performance in Week 5, as he accumulated 70 yards from the line of scrimmage before leaving the game.
In light of Hampton’s absence, Harbaugh announced that the Chargers will turn to running backs Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal.
Harbaugh also mentioned rookie Amar Johnson, who is on the practice squad, but the coach indicated that the team will explore other options, suggesting that L.A. is likely to invite running backs to tryouts or explore trades.
Haskins has rushed five times for 13 yards this season. Vidal, who is on the practice squad but has been promoted in the last two games, has four carries for 18 yards. Johnson has never played in a regular season game, but shined for the Green Bay Packers in the preseason.
Hampton’s injury adds to a long list of key Chargers players who have suffered injuries this season, including Harris, outside linebacker Khalil Mack (on injured reserve due to an elbow injury), offensive tackle Joe Alt (missed Sunday’s game with a high right ankle sprain), and left tackle Rashawn Slater (ruptured patellar tendon that cost him the season).
The good news for the Chargers is that the team has opened the 21-day window for the return to practice of linebacker Denzel Perryman, who has been on the injured reserve list due to an ankle injury since Week 2.
