ReportWire

Tag: Najee Harris

  • Is Chargers Weapon Already in Danger of Being Traded After Just Signing?

    [ad_1]

    The Los Angeles Chargers have completely revamped their backfield this offseason, signing Najee Harris in free agency, selecting Omarion Hampton in the first round of the NFL Draft and then scooping up Raheim Sanders as an undrafted free agent.

    Last year, the Chargers employed J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards as their top two running backs, but they allowed Dobbins to walk via free agency and cut Edwards.

    More news: Report: Minnesota Vikings’ Trade Talks for Star WR Hit Snag

    Things are definitely a bit more interesting heading into 2025, and it’s also important to remember that Hassan Haskins — who played for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan — and Kimani Vidal are in the mix, as well.

    Harris suffered an eye injury as a result of a fireworks accident earlier this offseason and has been on the NFI list ever since. He could very well miss the first few weeks of the regular season (per The Athletic), which could actually spell bad news for his future in Los Angeles.

    Why? Because Hampton is clearly the future for the Chargers, and the team also loves Sanders, who may have been one of the spring/summer’s biggest steals.

    So, does a world exist in which Los Angeles could actually trade Harris during the middle of the season, just months after signing the former Pittsburgh Steelers bruiser to a one-year contract?

    EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 29: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers speaks during a news conference after a training session at The Bolt on July 29, 2024 in El Segundo, California….


    Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

    It’s not out of the realm of possibility, particularly if both Hampton and Sanders are impressive right out of the gate.

    Harris seems like a one-year thing for the Chargers. They will obviously be turning the reins over to Hampton sooner rather than later, and people tend to forget how much of a stud Sanders was at both Arkansas and South Carolina. They could form quite the duo for the Bolts.

    What stops Los Angeles from cashing in on Harris at the trade deadline if it feels comfortable rolling with the Hampton-Sanders tandem the rest of the way in 2025?

    Does that mean Harris is a sure-fire goner? Of course not. He posted four straight 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his NFL career, after all (although his efficiency has left much to be desired). But he isn’t Saquon Barkley. He is expendable, and the Chargers probably wouldn’t be shy about pulling the trigger on a potential trade under the right circumstances.

    More news: Steelers Could Swing Blockbuster Trade for Disgruntled Raiders WR

    Harris has already gotten off on the wrong foot by not being able to participate in training camp and preseason. Sure, he’s a veteran, but Harbaugh also wants to see what he has in the former Pro Bowler. Meanwhile, Hampton and Sanders both appear to be growing in Los Angeles’ coaching staff.

    It would not be shocking to see the Chargers pull off a surprise move involving Harris in the coming months.

    For more on the Vikings and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Steelers honor Franco Harris by rallying past Raiders 13-10

    Steelers honor Franco Harris by rallying past Raiders 13-10

    [ad_1]

    PITTSBURGH — Kenny Pickett threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens with 46 seconds remaining, and the Pittsburgh Steelers capped three days of tributes to the late Franco Harris with a 13-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.

    On the same night the Steelers retired Harris’ No. 32 — the Hall of Fame running back died Wednesday at age 72 — Pittsburgh (7-8) kept its faint playoff hopes alive by delivering another last-second victory over the Raiders. Las Vegas (6-9) was pushed to the brink of elimination from the postseason.

    A day after the 50th anniversary of Harris’ “Immaculate Reception” win over the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs, Pickett deftly drove the Steelers 76 yards in 10 plays, the last a dart over the middle to a wide-open Pickens in the end zone.

    Pickett completed 26 of 39 for 244 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Tight end Pat Freiermuth caught seven passes for 66 yards and Najee Harris had 95 total yards as the Steelers won for the fifth time in seven games.

    Derek Carr threw for 174 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, the last one a floater down the middle of the field that was picked off by Cam Sutton with 29 seconds to go. Pittsburgh rookie Connor Heyward ran for a first down to help the Steelers run out of the clock.

    The Raiders, coming off a dramatic last-play victory over New England last week, reverted to their form from earlier this season by losing their eighth one-score game of the year. They could be eliminated from the playoffs by the end of the week.

    The Steelers paid tribute to Harris in various ways during a bitterly cold night. Players wore replicas of his jersey while entering the stadium. Defensive captain Cam Heyward ran onto the field waving a massive flag with Harris’ number, and Pickett even shouted “Franco! Franco!” during his cadence before converting a quarterback sneak in the first half.

    Still, it looked like it wouldn’t be enough. While Pittsburgh moved the ball with ease at times, it continued to struggle once it got near the end zone. Pickett threw an interception in the third quarter — his first in 145 attempts — and Chris Boswell missed a pair of field goals.

    Carr started crisply in the 8-degree weather — the coldest home game for the Steelers since 1989 — and finished off a 14-play, 71-yard opening drive with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Renfrow.

    Yet Las Vegas let the Steelers hang around, and Pickett — whose name was announced by Harris when Pittsburgh took him with the 20th overall pick in last spring’s draft — provided the first signature moment of what the Steelers hope will be a decorated career.

    HONORING HARRIS

    What was supposed to become a celebratory weekend for one of the NFL’s marquee franchises turned bittersweet when Harris died just two days before the 50th anniversary of his “Immaculate Reception” against the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs.

    The halftime ceremony featured many of Harris’ teammates from the 1970s Steelers dynasty. His widow, Dana Dokmanovich, and their son, Dok, joined Pittsburgh president Art Rooney II on stage. Dokmanovich leaned into Rooney after he handed her Harris’ jersey, and Pittsburgh Hall of Fame defensive end Joe Greene brushed away tears.

    INJURIES

    Raiders: DE Chandler Jones exited with a left elbow injury in the third quarter after colliding with teammate Maxx Crosby and did not return. … LB Denzel Perryman went to the locker room with a left shoulder injury in the fourth quarter.

    Steelers: CB Tre Norwood left in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.

    UP NEXT

    Raiders: Host NFC West champion San Francisco on Jan. 1.

    Steelers: At Baltimore on Jan. 1. The Ravens edged Pittsburgh 16-14 at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 11.

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

    [ad_2]

    Source link