Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton has missed the last six games with a fracture in his left ankle which was sustained in week five against the Washington Commanders. Despite returning to practice in a limited capacity this week, Hampton will be inactive for the Chargers week 13 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It was a good week,” Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Really beneficial, ramping up. Everything’s on track to return, not this week.”
Hampton got off to a slow start in the first two games of his rookie season, rushing for just 72 yards through the two contests. He picked up his production in the following three weeks however, both on the ground and in the air. He rushed for 242 yards in weeks 3-5, while catching 17 passes for 122 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
The Chargers planned to deploy a split back plan with Hampton and Najee Harris in the backfield this season, but Hampton has missed each game since week five while Harris tore his achilles tendon in week three against Denver. Kimani Vidal has taken on the lead back duties in the absence of Hampton and Harris and has rushed for 417 yards on 96 carries.
Hampton Eyeing Return in Week 14 Against Eagles
Hampton’s return to the practice field is a welcome sight for Chargers fans. Based on Harbaugh’s optimism coming out of practice this week, there’s a good chance he returns to the field in week 14 when LA takes on the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
“It hurt kind of. Sitting here can’t help my team,” Hampton said of his injury this week. “So it’s going to feel good to help my team out a little bit more.”
Hampton was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He came into the league as a highly touted prospect after two incredible seasons at the University of North Carolina, where he rushed for over 3,000 yards between 2023 and 2024 while picking up 30 touchdowns.
Though Vidal has done an admirable job filling in at running back, Hampton’s return will be a huge boost to the Chargers run game as they fight for a playoff spot in the final month of the season.
Waiting to clear Hampton until next week isn’t a bad idea considering Los Angeles will be facing the bottom feeding Las Vegas Raiders this weekend. It’s a game they should be able to win easily even without Hampton in the lineup.
Chargers Battling For AFC West Title and Wild Card Spot
Heading into week 13, the Chargers are 7-4 and are just as close to catching the 9-2 Denver Broncos atop the AFC West as they are to being overtaken by the 6-5 Houston Texans in the Wild Card Standings. With one more contest against Denver awaiting in week 18, a winning streak could make that final regular season matchup a battle for the division.
LA is tied with each current wild card team at 7-4, the other two being the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills. The Texans are right on the bubble at 6-5, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are both staying alive at 6-6.
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