Chargers open 2024 training camp with good news for Daiyan Henley but a setback for Najee Harris. Get the full scoop on their early start for the 2024 season.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Football is officially back, Bolt Fam, and your Los Angeles Chargers are leading the charge. The team became the first in the entire NFL to open training camp on Thursday, a full two weeks before their Hall of Fame Game debut. But the early start wasn't the only headline. While the Bolts got a huge boost with linebacker Daiyan Henley's full clearance for practice, they also placed new running back Najee Harris on the non-football injury list after a bizarre July 4th fireworks mishap.
Linebacker Daiyan Henley, who played most of the 2024 season with a torn labrum, has been medically cleared and is expected to fully participate in training camp.
Thanks to their spot in the NFL's kickoff preseason game against the Detroit Lions on July 31, the Chargers got a head start on the league. Veterans reported to 'The Bolt' facility in El Segundo, buzzing with the energy that only the first day of camp can bring. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh enters his second year with heightened expectations, and the team's social media was filled with behind-the-scenes looks at players arriving, signaling a clear sense of purpose. This early start provides crucial extra time to install schemes and build chemistry before the season truly begins.
The day's most unusual news involved running back Najee Harris, who landed on the non-football injury list with a superficial eye injury from a fireworks accident. While it sounds alarming, both GM Joe Hortiz and Harris's agent were quick to downplay the severity, assuring everyone he'll be back soon and won't miss regular season time. Balancing that odd setback was fantastic news for the defense: linebacker Daiyan Henley is 100% cleared. After gutting out most of 2024 with a torn labrum, having the breakout linebacker at full strength from day one is a massive win for the defensive unit.
With every setback comes an opportunity. Harris's temporary absence opens the door wide for rookie running back Omarion Hampton. The plan was always for Harris, signed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal, to share the load with the promising rookie. Now, Hampton will get a chance to absorb a significant number of first-team reps right out of the gate. This unexpected development will accelerate his acclimation to the NFL and give coaches—and fans—an extended look at the future of the Chargers' ground game.
The first day of camp set a clear tone: this is a team eager to get to work under Jim Harbaugh. While Harris's brief absence is a quirky headline, the real stories are Henley's full-throttle return and the early opportunity for rookie Omarion Hampton. With practices at USD's Torero Stadium next week and the Hall of Fame Game just two weeks away, the 2025 season is officially underway. The pads aren't on yet, but the optimism in El Segundo is already palpable.
