In a cruel twist of fate, Najee Harris went down with an Achilles injury. This injury happened on the Los Angeles Chargers’ 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The injury Harris’ injury first appeared late in the second quarter as Harris went down on a play-action pass, instantly reaching for his left calf. This seemingly harmless incident caused medical staff to wheel him off the field, alarming fellow players and millions of NFL fans across the country.
In a post-game press conference, Coach Jim Harbaugh was able to share good news — that preliminary tests suggested Harris’ injury was not season-ending. He did say that Harris would be tested further to determine the extent of the damage. The Chargers signed Harris as a free agent in March, signing him as their biggest free agent addition. His contract became particularly alluring since he provided remarkable durability. In his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he never missed a game and rushed for over 1,000 yards each year.
Before his departure from the game, Harris was impactful, leading the team with 28 yards on six carries. His violent, punishing style of running is one that Harbaugh truly covets. After the crash, Harbaugh talked about the exceptional game Harris played before the injury, and his resolve to succeed.
“He put that work in today and he was running with a purpose, gritty performance by him. Just always lunging forward. Surging forward.” – Jim Harbaugh
Harris had already previously made it onto the non-football injury/illness list prior to training camp after an accident with some fireworks. Though facing all these challenges, following the injury, his teammates responded with an outpouring of love and support. First and foremost, quarterback Justin Herbert gave a personal glimpse into what Harris’ injury status meant.
“It’s always too tough to lose a brother like that,” – Justin Herbert
He added, “And I think you never want to see that from any of your own players or an opponent and we’re wishing for the best.”
At halftime, Harbaugh pulled Harris aside. He comforted him and told him that all this would pass and he’d be back on the field in no time, feeling great. The team now needs to figure out how Harris’ absence will affect their overall game strategy in the future.
Man, what a game he had. How about that? – Jim Harbaugh
The Chargers are hoping for some positive news as it pertains to Harris’ condition. They’re hoping for a speedy recovery for their electrifying running back. Regardless of the results of those other tests, the team’s offensive strategy will have to change. No question now that Harris’ absence will affect the Chargers’ running game dynamic as they head into another tough pairing with Chicago.
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