For the Chargers, the running back conversation has flipped from a shortage of talent to a surplus of it. That’s the kind of problem every coaching staff wants: too many capable backs, not too few. Jim Harbaugh and his staff now have to sort out how to divide the work in a room that has speed, burst and power in equal measure.
Omarion Hampton looks like the headliner in that group. The 2025 first-round pick from the University of North Carolina showed plenty during his rookie year, and there’s a clear sense that he’s set up to be the centerpiece of the backfield. His first season in the league was shortened by injury, which leaves him with something to prove now that a full year is in front of him.
Even in a limited sample, Hampton’s upside was obvious. Against the New York Giants, he put together a 128-yard outing that included a 53-yard touchdown run. He has also been showing positive signs early in preseason work.
“From the first day we've gotten on the field to [Tuesday], you could argue and crown he's had as much, if not the most growth, of any player,” Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said, as reported by Omar Navarro on Chargers.com.
If Hampton is the lead back, the rest of the group gives the Chargers real flexibility. Keaton Mitchell adds pure speed, and the numbers back that up. He averaged 14.49 mph on carries, which was more than one mph faster than any other running back in 2025, according to NextGenStats.
Kimani Vidal and Jarret Patterson bring a different kind of value. Both have shown elusiveness and power, and both were important last year when the starters went down with season-ending injuries. They stepped into bigger roles and helped keep the run game on track.
There’s also reason to keep an eye on Amar Johnson and Greg Desrosiers Jr., who flashed in the win against Houston. They’re young, they’re eager, and they’ve made the most of the chances they’ve gotten. Whether they can carve out a larger role is still to be seen, but they’ve already made their presence felt.
In Other News...
Chargers Just Got A Top 10 Snub Fans Will Want Remembered
Bleacher Reports latest look at the NFLs deepest and most talented rosters left the Chargers on the outside, even after placing them ninth earlier in the offseason. The omission will catch the eye in a hurry because this is a team that still has the kind of centerpiece talent that tends to drive these conversations, starting with Justin Herbert and extending to a front that expects Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back in the mix.
The bigger question, at least in the early stages of camp, is whether the depth matches the headline names. Derwin James and Khalil Mack give the defense real star power, and the first unofficial depth chart ahead of the preseason should offer another clue about how the roster is lining up, but offensive line depth remains the spot that could keep the Chargers from being viewed alongside the leagues true heavyweights. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Practice Message Has Fans Split For One Big Reason
Jim Harbaugh and several Chargers staff members and players brought an unexpected message onto the practice field this week, wearing white long-sleeve shirts that read Everyone Watches Womens Sports. The team posted photos from the session on its official social media account, turning a routine preseason workout into a much bigger conversation than anyone likely anticipated.
As the Chargers continue their preparations for the upcoming season, the images quickly drew a split response from fans, with plenty of support mixed in alongside criticism of the slogan. It was a reminder that even a simple practice detail can take on a life of its own once it leaves the field and lands in the wider sports debate. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Faces The Chargers Pressure Fans Know Too Well
Justin Herbert heads into the 2026 season carrying the kind of expectations the Chargers have made routine around him, only now the backdrop is a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel. For Los Angeles, it is familiar territory: a franchise built on hope at quarterback, a talented passer asked to elevate everything around him, and a fan base that has seen enough uneven stretches to know how quickly pressure can build when the offense is supposed to be the strength.
Herbert is not alone in facing a tricky setup, with Malik Willis landing a starting role in Miami after the Dolphins moved on from Jaylen Waddle and Baker Mayfield again working through Tampa Bays roster churn and contract uncertainty. Still, the Chargers are the team most likely to be measured by how far their quarterback can carry them, which makes McDaniels arrival more than just a coordinator change. It is the latest test of whether Herbert can turn the weight of those expectations into the kind of season that quiets the noise for once. [Read more 🡒]