The Los Angeles Chargers are waiving running back Omarion Hampton with an injured designation. He injured his ankle in last week’s matchup against the Washington Commanders. The injury occurred late in the third quarter, specifically on a fourth-and-2 play with 1:53 remaining, contributing to the Chargers’ 27-10 defeat.
Hampton has been the Chargers anchor thus far, especially on the defensive end. He’s third in the NFL in yards from scrimmage since Week 3. Prior to departing the Week 5 game, he’d already piled up 70 scrimmage yards. This outstanding display emphasized his importance to the team’s offensive game plan. His playmaking absence will be sorely missed as the Chargers continue on in the 2023 season.
Addressing the situation with Hampton’s injury, HC Jim Harbaugh highlighted rookie Amar Johnson, who currently resides on the practice squad. Johnson’s regular-season debut hasn’t come yet. Although he was eventually cut loose, White exhibited remarkable promise with the Green Bay Packers during the preseason. His performance should serve as a nice launching pad for him to take on a larger role with Hampton out.
The Chargers are looking at other avenues to improve their running game. Harris, who tore his Achilles in Week 3, is out for the season. The team is pretty much guaranteed to have an open tryout for other running backs and will look into possible trade options as well.
Last night was the cherry on top, where the Hawks had no others come close to helping. Haskins has attempted five carries this season, totaling 13 yards. On the other hand, Vidal has been released to the practice squad the last two weeks and added up to four carries for 18 yards. In this moment, the Chargers’ coaching staff is facing a pivotal decision. They will have to assess their overall running back depth with Hampton out of the mix.
Even worse, Hampton’s injury limits his own ability to shine. It totally upends the Chargers’ entire offensive ecosystem. Puka Nacua is second only to Hampton in scrimmage yards since Week 3 with Christian McCaffrey leading the league.
Kris covers the Los Angeles Chargers and is looking forward to seeing Coach Harbaugh build on a promising first season with the franchise. The big story now is the incredible adversity the team is facing from crucial injuries.
Leave a Reply