The Chargers are at the point where they have to stop dabbling and start learning what Omarion Hampton really is. With the season sliding toward nowhere at 0-7, the running back should be getting a much bigger slice of the offense, not because the team has run out of options, but because it needs answers.
Hampton came into the year with real momentum after a rookie season that produced 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns in only nine games. That kind of start gave plenty of reason to think he could take another step in 2026, especially with Mike McDaniel stepping in as offensive coordinator. Instead, the Chargers have kept cycling through three backs, and Hampton has never been able to settle into a rhythm.
That rotation has included Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell, both of whom have had chances to contribute. There’s nothing wrong with having depth at the position, but the Chargers need to decide who their best runner is and let that player drive the offense. Hampton looks like the obvious choice.
Jim Harbaugh has already hinted that the team is willing to take a harder look at Hampton’s usage. He said he would look into giving the young running back more reps, which at least suggests the coaching staff understands the need for change. The offense needs a jolt, and Hampton has the size and talent to handle a much larger role.
That doesn’t mean he’s been perfect. Ball security has been a problem this season, and his production has not been steady enough.
But it’s hard to ask a back to find his groove when his workload keeps shifting from week to week. Hampton needs touches early, a chance to build momentum, and a real opportunity to show what he can do when the offense leans on him.
The Chargers can still use Vidal and Mitchell in certain spots. They do not have to treat this like an all-or-nothing decision.
But Hampton should be the focal point, the player the running game is built around. That is what being a bell cow really means: not every carry, not a total shutdown of the other backs, just a clear lead role and the bulk of the work.
With the season already looking like a lost cause, there’s little downside to finding out how much Hampton can handle. The Chargers need to sort out what works now, but they also need to identify who they want to build around later.
Hampton was a first-round investment for a reason. The talent is there.
Harbaugh’s words are a start. Now the Chargers need to make them matter on the field.
In Other News...
Justin Herbert Debate Just Took A Wild Turn For The Chargers
Justin Herberts rough start has already put the Chargers in an uncomfortable spot, with the quarterback piling up interceptions and the team still searching for its first win of the season. The frustration around the offense has only grown as outside voices question what exactly is going wrong, even as theres no evidence beyond the on-field results to support anything more than a bad stretch.
Emmanuel Acho took the conversation in a far more extreme direction on his podcast, publicly floating the idea that Herbert could be underperforming on purpose or otherwise working against the Chargers. It is the kind of speculation that lands with a thud around a team already under pressure, and it only adds to the noise surrounding a season that has gone sideways fast while the coaching staff tries to steady the situation. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Lost Season Puts Joe Hortiz Under Trade Deadline Pressure
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Justin Herbert still stands at the center of whatever the long-term plan becomes, which makes the next few weeks especially important for a roster that may need to be retooled around him. Veteran talent is the most obvious place to look for help in that process, and if Hortiz decides to lean into the future, the deadline could become less about chasing a miracle turnaround and more about extracting value from a lost year. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Refuse To Move Tuli Tuipulotu Despite Growing Buzz
Tuli Tuipulotu has become one of the more intriguing names to watch as the NFL trade deadline nears, and it is easy to see why. The 24-year-old pass rusher has been productive enough to draw attention around the league, while his contract situation has only added to the speculation surrounding him and the Chargers.
Even with the team stuck in a winless season, Los Angeles does not appear interested in turning Tuipulotu into a deadline move. The Chargers seem intent on holding their roster together for now, even as outside buzz grows and the unresolved future of a young edge rusher keeps the conversation going. [Read more 🡒]