Najee Harris’ Los Angeles Chargers run is already over, at least for a year. The running back tore his Achilles in Week 3 against the Denver Broncos, and with that, LA’s depth chart got flipped upside down. But Jim Harbaugh isn’t wasting time. He has already mapped out his next move for the backfield.

On Monday, the head coach announced that the 2024 sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal is going to be the “next man up” for the Chargers. Still, Harbaugh made it clear that general manager Joe Hortiz isn’t going to just sit back. “Hortiz will be scouring the market to see what is available at the position,” insider Alex Insdorf reported. That’s a message not just to LA fans but to 31 other teams as well.

For now, though, Harbaugh and Hortiz need to see what Vidal can deliver before calling in reinforcements.

After all, the NFL trade deadline is still weeks away, and those potential external options aren’t going anywhere. Plus, Vidal isn’t just some flyer. He was one of the most productive two-way backs in the 2024 class. He had 43 carries for 155 yards and scored 1 touchdown in 10 games in his rookie season in 2024.

In 2025, the 24-year-old RB logged 43 carries for 155 yards at 3.6 yards per attempt. He also chipped in five receptions for 62 yards and even scored a touchdown. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, but they hint at upside if given a real role in this offense.

Still, Vidal isn’t the only option on the roster. Rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton is another name to watch.

Rookie Omarion Hampton might help Jim Harbaugh

The Bolts pulled off a 23-20 comeback win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, moving to 3-0 for the first time since 2002. But the big win came with a big loss. Yes, Najee Harris, who had never missed a game since entering the league in 2021, went down in the second quarter.

He had 28 yards on six carries before his left leg gave out on a plant step. Harris was carted off, and while it was first called an ankle issue, Jim Harbaugh later confirmed it was an Achilles tear. That means Harris is likely done for the year.

So now the question is what happens next in LA’s backfield.

The Chargers still have Omarion Hampton, and on Sunday, the rookie showed why he might be the answer. He rushed for a career-best 70 yards and punched in his first touchdown. He also added 59 yards on six receptions, proving he could handle both parts of the job. That kind of breakout performance puts him right in the mix.

But beyond Hampton, things look a little light. Hassan Haskins is the only other back on the main roster, and he has managed just 288 total yards in four seasons. On the practice squad, it’s only Vidal and undrafted rookie Amar Johnson. These are the current options available to Harbaugh.

Now it’s on the head coach to figure out the next step. In Week 4, the Chargers will head to MetLife to face the New York Giants, and all eyes will be on how the backfield shapes up.