Following a promising 3-0 beginning, the Los Angeles Chargers have stumbled in their most recent pair of matchups. Adding to their woes, their Week 5 defeat against the Washington Commanders carried an additional setback.
First-year running back Omarion Hampton was observed wearing a protective boot after the team’s 27-10 loss to the Commanders, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Hampton, 22, was forced to exit the game prematurely due to an ankle ailment. He is scheduled to undergo evaluations on Monday to assess the extent of the injury. The presence of the walking boot indicates that Hampton could be sidelined for a period.
Prior to his departure from the game, Hampton accumulated 12 carries for 44 yards and six receptions for 26 yards. He had been fulfilling the role of the team’s primary running back after the loss of free-agent acquisition Najee Harris, who suffered an Achilles injury that ended his season.
After Hampton was unable to continue, the Chargers utilized a combination of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins in the running back position. However, neither player managed to make a significant impact for the Chargers as they attempted to close the deficit.
While Hampton started the season in a shared role, there are significant expectations for the rookie’s future career. The Chargers chose Hampton with the No. 22 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, indicating the team’s belief in his potential to become an exceptional NFL starter.
In the preceding two games, Hampton seemed to be living up to those expectations. The rookie averaged 99 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards, and one touchdown during that span. With his injury sustained in Week 5, Hampton’s emergence could be postponed for a few games.
Despite his high draft status, Hampton was not the most impressive rookie running back participating in Sunday’s game. That distinction belongs to Commanders rookie runner Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had a standout performance with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Croskey-Merritt was selected late in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
