Najee Harris receives expected injury update after Chargers beat Broncos

Mike Moraitis

Najee Harris receives expected injury update after Chargers beat Broncos image

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Chargers notched a huge victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 3, but they've lost running back Najee Harris for the season in the process.

Harris suffered a non-contact injury during the contest and it was immediately clear that he had sustained a torn Achilles, which would end his season.

After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that is indeed the case, based on preliminary tests, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

"Jim Harbaugh said preliminary tests indicated a torn Achilles for RB Najee Harris," Popper reported.

The injury is a devastating blow for Harris and the Chargers.

The veteran running back was expected to form a one-two punch with rookie Omarion Hampton and finally started getting more work in Week 3.

Harris had been as durable as they come over the first four seasons of his career, as he had never missed a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers despite carrying a heavy workload every year.

Now, the Chargers will have to lean more heavily on Hampton. Los Angeles also has Hassan Haskins on the roster and both Kimani Vidal and Amar Johnson on the practice squad.

Look for the Chargers to either promote Vidal or sign another running back in free agency to take Harris' place on the roster.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.