Chargers determined to get RB Omarion Hampton more involved Sunday

EL SEGUNDO — The evolution of Omarion Hampton continued Sunday when he rushed for 128 yards and one touchdown in 12 carries, breaking tackles again and again and then leaving defenders trailing in his wake during the Chargers’ otherwise lackluster 21-18 loss to the New York Giants.

Hampton, who was the Chargers’ first-round draft pick in April, also caught five passes on five targets from quarterback Justin Herbert for 37 yards against the Giants, one week after he had six receptions on seven targets for 59 yards in a 23-20 victory over the Denver Broncos.

If he was the Chargers’ most effective offensive player, and he was from beginning to end Sunday, then the obvious question after their first defeat of the season was why not give him the ball more often? Greg Roman, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, had an answer Thursday.

“We’ve got to find a way to give him more opportunities,” Roman said.

The trick is not to overdo it.

In four games, Hampton has 270 yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries.

The Chargers’ plan after drafting him was to pair him with Najee Harris, who had displayed remarkable durability and consistency during his first four seasons. Harris never missed a start while with the Pittsburgh Steelers and rushed for 1,000 yards or more in each of his seasons.

Plans changed when Harris sustained an eye injury during a fireworks accident on July 4 and sidelined him for all of training camp. The Chargers made Hampton their No. 1 back during camp and for the first three games of the season, victories over the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Broncos.

Harris then suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury during their victory over the Broncos, and the Chargers had no choice but to enhance Hampton’s role for the rest of the 2025 season. He proved he could handle it by running through and around the Giants last weekend.

Roman expected nothing less from the 22-year-old Hampton.

“He keeps moving forward,” Roman said. “I think he’s on a very good trajectory. We’re bringing him into this league at a good pace. I really feel good about it, and you can start to see his growth week after week after week in a lot of different areas. There were some subtle things he did like a veteran last week that two weeks prior he wouldn’t have done that way. You saw the juice.”

So, why didn’t we see more juice against New York?

Roman said he wasn’t short-changing Hampton during the game against the Giants, but that circumstances forced the Chargers into passing situations. They faced too many second- or third-down-and-long situations, with far too many penalties putting the Chargers behind the chains.

The Chargers were penalized seven times on offense and 14 times, overall, which contributed to less-than-ideal situations on second and third downs.

“We had a chance to do really well on third down(s) in that game, and we didn’t quite do it,” Roman said. “So any time that happens that’s going to change how you call the game. So, to answer your question, trying to drop a little knowledge on you there, no, we’d like to get him some more carries.”

INJURY UPDATES

Right guard Mekhi Becton was a limited participant in practice as he recovers from a concussion sustained in the game against the Broncos. … Left tackle Joe Alt (sprained right ankle) and wide receiver Derius Davis (knee) did not practice for the second consecutive day. … Wide receiver Keenan Allen (rest) and center Andre James (neck) were full participants in practice.