Najee Harris injury update: Chargers move RB to active roster off non-football injury list per report

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris will be on the team’s initial 53-man roster. Harris was originally on the non-football injury list. An accident this summer caused a few injuries as the road to recovery continues for the newly acquired back.

“The #Chargers are moving RB Najee Harris to the active roster from the non-football injury list, per me and @TomPelissero,” Rapoport said via X. “Harris is recovering from injuries, facial and otherwise, sustained in a fireworks accident but has been working and getting ready. A good sign.”

Harris was considered a nice offseason pick-up for the Chargers this offseason. His time with the Pittsburgh Steelers came to an end after being a first-round selection of the franchise. Maybe needing a change of scenery, Harris getting to play under head coach Jim Harbaugh brought some excitement.

This remained true even when the Chargers decided to draft Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina in the 2025 NFL Draft. A nice one-two veteran-rookie punch could be formed in Los Angeles with Harris and Najee.

While he is on the roster, there is still this injury to deal with. ESPN’s Adam Schefter had the most recent update on where Harris stood during training camp, revealing what level of drills he was participating in.

“Chargers running back Najee Harris ran and participated in drills with a football for the first time this training camp, doing so off to the side with an athletic trainer during Tuesday’s practice,” Schefter said via X on Aug. 12.

In 68 career games, Harris has rushed for 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns on 1,097 carries. This leads to him averaging 3.9 yards per carry, a number everyone in Los Angeles will be hoping to see increase beginning in 2025.

Now brings up questions about his availability for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes, a divisional game but the two teams will be traveling to Brazil to play each other — quite a far distance from their usual showdowns.

Being placed on the roster is as good of a sign we can have right now. Plenty of time separates us from now and the Sept. 5 kickoff, just over a week. The Chargers will want to make sure Harris is completely ready to go for the game, especially since a long flight will take place across for them into Brazil.