The Chargers' 2025 training camp starts in chaos as WR Mike Williams retires and RB Najee Harris suffers a freak injury, putting pressure on Justin Herbert.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Los Angeles Chargers opened training camp on Thursday not with a bang, but with a series of gut punches. Hopes for a smooth start to the 2025 campaign were dashed as veteran wide receiver Mike Williams abruptly announced his retirement and newly-signed running back Najee Harris was sidelined by a freak fireworks accident, leaving two massive holes on offense before the first whistle even blew.
You can’t really replace a guy like that.
The biggest shock of the day was the sudden retirement of Mike Williams. The 30-year-old receiver, who had just returned to the Bolts as a free agent after stints with the Jets and Steelers, decided to hang up his cleats. The decision ends a storied Chargers career that included 309 receptions, 4,806 yards, and 31 touchdowns. 'You can’t really replace a guy like that,' a somber GM Joe Hortiz told reporters. As if that wasn't enough, the team placed its key offseason acquisition, running back Najee Harris, on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. The cause? A superficial eye injury from a July 4th fireworks mishap. While his agent insists he'll be 'fully ready' for the season, there's no official timeline, and if he remains on the list into August, he'll miss the first four games.
The offensive turmoil puts even more pressure on the shoulders of Justin Herbert. Now entering his sixth season, the franchise quarterback is still chasing his first playoff victory. Despite the chaos, Herbert projected confidence, stating, 'We're far ahead of where we were last year, but there's still a lot of work to do.' He also made a statement of a different kind, arriving at camp wearing surprising red-tinted contact lenses that quickly became a topic of conversation. Whether a style choice or a sign of intense focus, it's clear Herbert will need superhuman vision to navigate an offense that just lost two of its key weapons.
The bad news wasn't limited to Williams and Harris. The Chargers also placed five players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start camp: S Elijah Molden (knee), WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Del'Shawn Phillips, and T Savion Washington, in addition to Williams before his retirement. It's a challenging start for a team aiming to build on last year's 11-6 record and make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2009. The resilience of this squad under coach Jim Harbaugh is about to be tested early.
Day one of training camp has already reshaped the Chargers' offensive identity. The focus now shifts dramatically. Who will step up to fill the void left by Mike Williams? Can rookie Omarion Hampton handle the load if Najee Harris's return is delayed? The answers to these questions will define the early narrative of the Chargers' 2025 season and reveal just how ready this team is to overcome adversity.
