Brazil awaits the teams from Kansas City and Los Angeles as the 2025 NFL season gets going.
Will Najee Harris play for the Chargers against the Chiefs in Week 1?
Starting the season for the LA Chargers in São Paulo wasn’t on the mind of Najee Harris just a short time ago. And not because of the neutral location outside the United States.
The veteran back, injured in a bizarre Independence Day fireworks mishap, might actually still kick off Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night.
What caused Najee Harris’ eye injury?
As you may have heard, Harris suffered what was fortunately described as a “superficial” eye injury during a July 4 fireworks display, forcing him onto the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and causing him to miss all of training camp and the preseason. Though the damage didn’t impact his vision, the timing couldn’t have been worse for a player learning a new offense. Hardly the off-season celebration he, or the fans, were expecting.
Positive news followed, though, and by early September, Harris was activated from the NFI list and added to the Chargers’ 53-man roster. He was cleared for full contact and returned to practice, participating fully on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Looking good!
Most telling was when Coach Jim Harbaugh then said he “expects” Harris to play in Week 1, and the official Chargers injury report removed him from the list entirely.
That said, his snap count – and role for the team – may be limited at first, given the time missed and the presence of rookie Omarion Hampton. Expect him to suit up... but maybe not from the start.
You can follow all the action live right here with AS USA as our inimitable commentator Dane Arlauckas gets into the hotseat for the first time this season.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.