Chargers’ major injuries couldn’t stop their playoff push
EL SEGUNDO — When standout left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp in August, Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said he began waking up at 4 a.m., in order to consider his options without their top offensive lineman available for the rest of 2025.
When veteran running back Najee Harris sustained a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos, Roman said he started waking up at 3:30 a.m., wondering who might be capable of replacing the player who was signed as a free agent to rejuvenate their ground game.
When right tackle Joe Alt, Slater’s replacement at left tackle, went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9, Roman said he began waking up at 2:30 a.m., trying to imagine how the Chargers might best protect quarterback Justin Herbert from opponents’ relentless pass rush.
“It changes the math,” Roman said earlier this week. “You’ve just got to work harder. You’ve got to find solutions. I like how these guys are stepping in and stepping up, though. This season and moving forward, we know who we have, and that’s who we have, and I feel good about that.
“As far as challenges go, every year is tough on the sleep.”
The Chargers haven’t been anywhere near full strength because of injuries to key players this season, and they won’t be again for Sunday night’s AFC wild-card game against the New England Patriots. They ruled out wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith for Sunday because of a hamstring injury.
Running back Omarion Hampton, Harris’ replacement, was listed as questionable to play after he was said to be a limited participant in practice on Friday because of an ankle injury. Hampton fractured his left ankle in Week 5 and was sidelined for seven games.
Then, after Kimani Vidal assumed the starter’s position in Hampton’s absence, Hampton rolled his right ankle during the Chargers’ loss to the Houston Texans in Week 17. He returned to the game and scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run, but then sat out their loss to the Broncos in Week 18.
Asked Friday if he expected to play against the Patriots on Sunday night, Hampton said, “Yeah, yeah, that’s the plan. I’m super excited.”
If he can’t play, or he’s limited in the number of carries he gets against the Patriots, then Vidal is expected to step in, as he did while making the first seven starts of his NFL career. Vidal topped 100 yards three times, including a career-high 126 yards on 25 carries in a victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13.
Vidal had a team-leading 643 yards plus three touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry in 13 games in his second season in the NFL. Hampton, a rookie who was the Chargers’ first-round draft pick, rushed for 545 yards plus four touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt in nine games.
“It was great to have those games where I was the No. 1 guy,” Vidal said earlier this week of replacing Hampton while Hampton was sidelined earlier in the season. “If he’s ready to go, we’ll be ready. He’s just trying to get back right. Whether he’s up or down, I have confidence in the plan we have. “
INJURY REPORT
In addition to Lambert-Smith, the Chargers also ruled out safety Kendall Williamson for Sunday’s game because of an ankle injury.
In addition to Hampton, they also listed tackle Austin Deculus (oblique), outside linebacker Bud Dupree (hamstring), tight end Tucker Fisk (ankle), defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring) and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (hamstring) as questionable.
WEATHER REPORT
The game-time temperature is expected to be in the low 30s with 0% chance of precipitation on Sunday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It might seem like a heat wave when compared to the 15-degree temperature the Chargers faced for the opening kickoff in Week 15 in Kansas City.