The Chargers may be headed for a noticeable shift in how they handle Omarion Hampton, and the hints are coming from the top of the offense.
Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said he will call plays from the coaches’ booth rather than the sideline, and he also suggested Hampton could be in line for a bigger role. That lines up with what head coach Jim Harbaugh already put out there when he indicated the running back would get more touches.
When asked about Hampton, McDaniel said, "We’ve had some strong consideration on adjusting the exact flow,” McDaniel said.
He added, "I’m excited about someone dictating the rotation.”
The timing matters because Hampton has not topped double-digit carries since Week 5 against the Broncos. The 23-year-old has been stuck in a rough sophomore slump, with both his workload and production sliding.
Hampton did flash some promise as a rookie before his ankle injury, but that version of him has been hard to find this season. The former Tar Heel is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, which ranks 39th, and he has 89 carries for 309 yards, along with three touchdowns.
Against the Rams last week, Hampton logged 11 touches, including nine rushing attempts and work in the passing game, but he finished with just 23 yards.
His struggles have come from a mix of poor efficiency, a crowded backfield and problems up front on the offensive line. Still, the comments from McDaniel and Harbaugh point to a possible reset in Hampton’s usage. The Chargers may not be able to rescue their season, but there could still be time to get the running back back on track.
In Other News...
Texans Exposed A Chargers Problem Jim Harbaugh Still Hasn't Fixed
The Chargers offense has been stuck in a stretch that has gone far beyond a bad afternoon or even a bad month. Since October, the unit has been unable to find the end zone with any consistency, and the numbers around it are just as ugly, with Los Angeles sitting last in several key offensive categories. Protection has been shaky, turnovers have piled up, and the overall result has been an attack that too often never gets into rhythm.
Jim Harbaugh has acknowledged the problem and said the staff is taking a hard look at every part of the offense to figure out what can be fixed. For a team trying to stay afloat, the concern is no longer just whether the Chargers can score, but how long they can keep searching for answers before the season starts slipping away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Trade Buzz Just Put Chargers Fans In A Wild Spot
A little quarterback chatter has a way of setting off alarm bells in Los Angeles, and this latest round of speculation has done exactly that. NFL reporter Albert Breer floated the idea that the Vikings should at least ask about Justin Herbert, a notion that instantly puts one of the leagues most recognizable passers into a very different kind of conversation than Chargers fans are used to hearing.
For now, though, the reality around the Chargers has not changed. Team officials have made it clear Herbert is not available and remains the franchise quarterback, which is why this story lives firmly in the realm of speculation rather than anything approaching a real transaction. Still, any mention of Herbert in trade talk is enough to make the temperature rise, because even the suggestion of a deal involving a player of his stature forces the same question every time: what would it even take? [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Hit A Trade Deadline Crossroads After Their 0-8 Collapse
An 0-8 start has put the Chargers in an uncomfortable spot, with general manager Joe Hortiz now weighing what the roster should look like as the trade deadline approaches. The season has reached the point where every move carries extra meaning, because the front office has to balance the present against whatever comes next.
Veteran pieces are naturally part of that conversation, and the pressure only grows when a team is this deep into a collapse. For Los Angeles, the question is no longer just how to salvage the year, but whether standing pat or making a deal says something about the direction of the franchise beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]