The Los Angeles Chargers are getting some much-needed reinforcements just in time for a Monday night showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who’s been sidelined for nearly two months with an ankle injury, is expected to suit up for the first time since early October.
Hampton, listed as questionable along with quarterback Justin Herbert on the Chargers’ final injury report, has been trending in the right direction. He returned to practice last week, but the team held him out of their game against the Raiders, opting for a cautious approach with the promising young back.
Before the injury, Hampton was making a strong case for a bigger role in the offense. In just five games, he averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry, racking up 314 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That kind of production doesn’t just happen by accident - the North Carolina product was showing real burst and vision, and the Chargers clearly saw him as a key piece of their ground game moving forward.
Now, with his ankle feeling right and his confidence back, Hampton says he’s ready to roll.
“If it’s up to me, I’ll always play,” he said Friday. “But I got to wait for the doc. Whatever they say goes.”
The Chargers’ backfield has been in flux since Najee Harris went down with a season-ending Achilles injury earlier in the season. That loss forced the team to lean heavily on Kimani Vidal, and the second-year back has more than held his own.
Vidal leads the team with 543 rushing yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry and finding the end zone three times. He’s topped the 100-yard mark in three games since Hampton’s injury, proving he’s not just a stopgap - he’s a legitimate contributor.
Hampton, for his part, has been watching closely and is excited about the potential of a one-two punch with Vidal.
“It’s amazing just to see him go out there and just produce the way he does,” Hampton said. “Me and him gonna be special.”
And then there’s Justin Herbert, who’s also expected to play Monday despite dealing with a fractured non-throwing hand. Herbert underwent surgery earlier this week to stabilize the injury with a plate and screw, but he’s been practicing with the mindset that he’ll be under center against the Eagles. As he put it Wednesday, he’s preparing like he’ll play and will “see how the next couple of days go.”
Herbert’s toughness has never been in question, and if he’s cleared, expect him to be out there - even if it means playing through some discomfort.
With Hampton potentially back in the mix and Herbert pushing through injury, the Chargers are getting healthier at just the right time. And while the Eagles present a tough test, L.A. might finally have the offensive firepower to go toe-to-toe with one of the NFC’s best.