Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said Saturday night that he is hopeful running back Najee Harris will play Week 1.
Harris has been on the non-football injury/illness list for all of training camp after a July 4 fireworks mishap.
“Najee’s doing great, going through all the medical processes,” Hortiz said during an appearance on CBS for the Chargers’ final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. “But he’s on track, and I think he should be able to go, hopefully in Week 1.”
Hortiz’s endorsement of Harris for Week 1, when the Chargers go to Brazil to face the Kansas City Chiefs, is somewhat of a surprise. Coach Jim Harbaugh has been noncommittal on Harris’ status all preseason. On Thursday, Harbaugh again said he had no update on the running back.
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“When Najee’s ready to play, he’ll be ready to play,” Harbaugh said. “Right now, to take it past today would be going over the legal limit.”
According to Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, the July 4 fireworks incident caused a “superficial” eye injury. The Chargers, however, haven’t publicly described the injury at all.
The secrecy around it is standard practice for Harbaugh, who doesn’t give updates on virtually any injuries until the league requires teams to, which isn’t until the week leading into Week 1. Instead, Harbaugh often tells reporters he isn’t a doctor and isn’t qualified for injury updates.
Harris ran and participated in drills for the first time this preseason on Aug. 12. He has continued to work off to the side with an athletic trainer for the final weeks of camp. Harris appears on the field with a helmet and visor or dark glasses making his eyes invisible to onlookers.
The only image of his eye is a picture posted to his Snapchat account on Aug. 6, where Harris’ right eye appears to be closed shut. Harbaugh, however, has said Harris can open his eye.
Harris has never missed a game in his NFL career. His durability is one of the reasons why the former Steelers was attractive to the Chargers, and it now appears that he has a legitimate shot to be on the field for the Chargers in Week 1.
