Najee Harris got some big news on Monday.
The Los Angeles Chargers’ new running back has been cleared for contact, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters.
The Chargers open the season Friday in Brazil against the Kansas City Chiefs. There’s a “possibility” that Harris plays, Harbaugh said.
“He’s looked really good in practice,” Harbaugh added.
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It’s been a bumpy offseason for Harris. He sustained an eye injury celebrating the Fourth of July.
Harris has been back at practice but hadn’t yet been able to do any contact drills.
Now that he can take contact, that at least opens up the chance that he gets back into game action. On the short Week 1, it’ll just be whether the Chargers feel Harris is up to speed to take the field against the Chiefs.
The first official injury report of the week will come out on Tuesday for the Chargers. That’ll provide a more sturdy look at whether he’ll be good to go in Sao Paulo.
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Harris is in his first season outside of Pittsburgh after signing with the Chargers as a free agent this offseason. He surpassed 1,000 yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers.
His role in L.A. could be reduced at least a bit after the Chargers took UNC’s Omarion Hampton in the first round of the NFL Draft. Hampton got most of the reps this summer with Harris on the sideline.
The Chargers would certainly love to have both available to give them the best chance of beating the Chiefs and of making noise all season.
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