Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back Omarion Hampton is expected to return from a left ankle fracture and play Monday night when the Philadelphia Eagles visit Inglewood, Calif., multiple outlets reported Saturday.
After missing seven games with the injury, Hampton was trending toward his first game since leaving an Oct. 5 loss to the Washington Commanders.
Hampton returned to practice last week wearing the yellow jersey Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh uses to designate players working through an injury. He was on the practice field Friday in a blue jersey with the rest of the offense.
Hampton is officially listed as questionable for Monday’s game after being limited in practice on Thursday and listed as a full participant on Friday and Saturday.
“If it’s up to me. I’ll always play,” Hampton said, per ESPN. “But I got to wait for the doc. Whatever they say goes.”
Hampton averaged 4.8 yards per carry before he was injured, taking over the bulk of the carries after Najee Harris went down with a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 3. The No. 22 overall draft pick out of North Carolina had 66 carries for 314 yards and two scores, including a highlight-reel 54-yard touchdown run against the Giants in Week 4.
Quarterback Justin Herbert is also listed as questionable for Monday’s game after he was limited in practice all week.
Hurt in Sunday’s 31-14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Herbert underwent surgery a day later to put a plate and screws in his left (non-throwing) hand to expedite healing of a broken bone.
Harbaugh said of the possibility of Herbert being the starter Monday: “We’re optimistic that that’s going to be the case.”
Herbert, 27, has completed 66.9% of his passes this season for 2,842 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Chargers (8-4) have won four of their past five games to become wild-card eligible.
Since Los Angeles selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert owns a 49-42 record as a starter. He has connected on 66.5% of his passes, throwing for 23,935 yards and 158 TDs with 55 interceptions.
