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NFL Star Suffers Eye Injury In Fourth Of July Fireworks Accident

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 10:44 AM ET

An NFL player set to have a big role for his team this year might be sidelined for a while after a fireworks accident injured his eye.

According to reports, Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris was the accident victim during some Fourth of July fireworks celebrations. Harris' agent Doug Hendrickson released a statement on the incident, asserting that Harris should be good to go for the start of the 2025 NFL season.

“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” Hendrickson said in a statement on Thursday. “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

Breaking: Chargers RB Najee Harris sustained a superficial eye injury during a 4th of July fireworks mishap, sources tell @AdamSchefter.

He is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season. pic.twitter.com/bT5Pclspxh
— ESPN (@espn) July 10, 2025

NFL fans weren't in any mood to be charitable to Harris. Just about all of the reactions to his accident have been to mock him:

"No different than having his normal vision. Couldn’t hit a gap if his life depended on it," one user declared.

"If he has to wear an eye patch while healing we calling him Patches?" another asked.

"If you thought he couldn't see wide open holes in the line before ... just wait!" joked a third.

"I can't remember a 4th of July without a professional athlete getting injured somehow. One day maybe we'll learn."

"Why the (expletive) do millionaire NFL players insist on lighting up their own fireworks?

The incident also reminded many of the infamous fireworks accident that pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul suffered back in 2015. The former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion had to get a finger amputated after his accident but managed to play eight more seasons in the NFL.

"Somewhere Jason Pierre-Paul just cringed."

"Someone didn’t learn lessons from Jason Pierre Paul."

"Seems like Jason Pierre-Paul would be example enough to stay away from such things."

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 05: Najee Harris #22 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 05, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images

Najee Harris signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal with the Chargers at the start of the offseason following a four-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He has enjoyed four straight seasons of 1,000-plus rushing yards to start his career and has never missed a game.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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