Team news: Los Angeles Chargers | Page 3

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said Saturday night that running back Najee Harris is feeling “great” and that he is hopeful the vet can play Week 1 against the Chiefs.

Harris has been out with an eye injury stemming from his July 4 fireworks mishap, sitting on the non-football injury list. Harris has been working on the sidelines with trainers for the past week-plus. The Chargers brought in Harris during free agency before spending a first-round pick on UNC RB Omarion Hampton. If healthy, he’ll at least be part of a committee in Los Angeles with Hampton leading the charge. Harris is currently RB41 on the consensus rankings.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier this camp that Ladd McConkey has become “uncoverable” in one-on-one situations. Monday featured example after example of that.

Related players: Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Keenan Allen

The story has high praise for McConkey and his potential for 2025. It said the passing offense is going to flow through McConkey this year and even with the return of Allen to the Bolts, it's McConkey's room. The story also believes McConkey is poised to reach even greater heights in his second season. We currently rank McConkey 12th among our WRs and he looks to be available in the early third round of drafts so far this summer.

Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh told reporters Saturday WR Quentin Johnston suffered a concussion during Saturday’s game against the Rams.

Johnston took a hard shot in the first quarter and his head hit the field hard. He was taken out on a medical cart and eventually taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Johnston will now have to clear concussion protocol before returning to play. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who filled in for Johnston, also went to the locker room with an injury.

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston left Saturday’s game against the Rams after taking a hard hit near the head.

Johnston was eyeing a long pass that was deflected before taking the hit and having his head hit hard off the turf. We’ll keep an eye on this one, as this could be a concussion for Johnston. Ladd McConkey, rookie Tre’ Harris and the returning Keenan Allen are the top options if Johnston misses time. Rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith has also shown flashes this preseason.

Greg Roman said that even if Najee Harris isn’t ready to go Week 1, RB Omarion Hampton will rotate with another back. Who that other back is, Roman says is wide open.

Related players: Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins

Hampton would still be the back to play if Harris isn't ready for Week 1, but who he would rotate with shouldn't be a huge threat to his touches anyway. However, it may take time for Hampton to be more heavily involved with or without Harris in the lineup. Harris is slowly working his way back but it's tough to tell if he'll be ready to go Week 1.

Reunion: Six-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen is signing with the Chargers on a one-year, $8.52 million deal.

Related players: Ladd McConkey, Tre' Harris, Quentin Johnston, KeAndre Lambert-Smith

The Chargers don't have a lot of sure things behind McConkey, so Allen could certainly be a fantasy-factor being back with the Chargers. It seems like every day we see a Johnston drop in camp, Harris is just a rookie this season and Lambert-Smith has been mentioned as a sleeper, but Allen definitely fills a need in the Charger offense and could help as a WR3 on your fantasy team.

Six-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen is visiting the #Chargers today, and there is mutual interest in a potential reunion.

Allen, 33, played his first 13 NFL seasons for the team before spending last season in Chicago. Now, he could be back in L.A.

Related Players: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis

A reunion would make sense to bolster the WR depth, but with McConkey's home in the slot, we wouldn't expect a huge fantasy output from the aging veteran. He's best left on waiver wires in all but the deepest of leagues if he does indeed sign back in LA.

Running back Nyheim Hines has found a place to continue his NFL career.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Hines has agreed to sign with the Chargers. Hines has not played since suffering a serious leg injury in a jet ski accident in July 2023.

Related players: Najee Harris, Omaarion Hampton

Hines was playing for the Bills at the time of his injury and signed with the Browns last year, but never came off of the non-football injury list while in Cleveland, the story went on to say.
Harris is currently on the non-football injury list after suffering an eye injury in a fireworks accident and Hampton is a rookie, but both are still expected to lead the way in the backfield this season for the Chargers. It's possible Hines, if healthy, could carve out a role in the passing game.

Holdout over: Tre Harris has now agreed to terms and will sign his rookie contract, sources say.

Related Players: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Jalen Reagor, KeAndre Lamber-Smith, Derius Davis

That lasted all of five days, and comes on the heels of Mike Williams' retirement earlier today. Harris will now use training camp to attempt to climb his way to the top of the depth chart and work as Justin Herbert's main outside option.

Sources: Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams’ agent Tory Dandy informed the team last night that, after eight seasons, his client is retiring from the NFL. Williams walks away from the game at age 30.

Related Players: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis

This comes as quite a shock, but the veteran was set to hit PUP heading into training camp, and either the injury was more severe than we thought or Williams didn't want to deal with another stint on the sidelines after missing so much of 2023 with a torn ACL. Tre Harris is still unsigned as of this news, which could put Quentin Johnston back in line to operate as the main WR2 once again. It's hard to see McConkey getting any more of a target share after his massive rookie output, but that could very well be the case.