Omarion Hampton is still working his way back to the lead role.
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The Los Angeles Chargers‘ cast is no stranger to utilizing the understudy role in 2025, especially at running back. They already lost Najee Harris for the season and Hampton has been sidelined since Week 5 with an ankle injury.
That gave Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins some time in the spotlight, which the former has certainly taken full advantage of.
Hampton was placed on injured reserve after the Chargers’ Week 5 contest with his ankle ailment, putting him on track to come off of it in Week 10. However, early indications are that won’t be the case.
Here’s the latest on Hampton.
When will Omarion Hampton return?
Hampton isn’t expected to return until after the team’s Week 12 bye week, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The rookie is eligible to come off injured reserve in Week 10, but Harbaugh indicated that Hampton’s practice window won’t be opened just yet. However, he did acknowledge that the situation can change.
Hampton has been sidelined since Week 5 with an ankle injury, which came just a couple of weeks after the Chargers lost Najee Harris for the season with a torn Achilles. Hampton took on a larger workload in his one game-plus as the lead back before falling victim to an injury of his own.
He appears primed to miss the Chargers’ Week 10 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Week 11 showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It would put him on track for a Week 13 at the earliest, when Los Angeles takes on the rival Las Vegas Raiders.
That would represent a big hit to fantasy managers who hoped to have Hampton back in the regular season before a potential playoff run. From the real-life team’s perspective, it’s a risk seemingly worth taking after losing Joe Alt for the season. The tackle missed just three games and made a quick return after suffering an ankle injury in the same game as Hampton.
The Chargers enter Week 10 with a 6-3 record and are firmly in the playoff picture. Kimani Vidal’s production has given the team time to take their time with Hampton’s recovery.
Now Hampton can continue nursing himself back to full strength without the added pressure of returning too quickly.
Chargers RB depth chart
Depth has become a problem for the once-deep Chargers’ running back room. Vidal has stepped up to become the RB1 in Hampton’s absence, sharing the backfield with Haskins.
Even with those injuries, Harbaugh’s team has been capable of running the ball without its top two backs.
