The Los Angeles Chargers’ season came to a disappointing end with a 16-3 defeat to the New England Patriots in the AFC Wild Card round on January 11, 2026, at Gillette Stadium. For rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who battled through an ankle injury all week to even suit up, the night was especially frustrating as he touched the ball just once in the entire game.
Hampton had been listed as questionable leading up to the matchup, missing practices on Wednesday and Thursday before returning for a limited session on Friday while wearing a brace on his right ankle. He declared he expected to play, and the Chargers ultimately activated him, giving fans hope that the first-round pick would contribute in a big way against a tough Patriots run defense. Despite getting the green light, the game script and perhaps the lingering effects of the injury kept his involvement to a bare minimum. The Chargers’ offense struggled overall, managing only 207 total yards and no touchdowns, while the run game was bottled up as Kimani Vidal and others saw most of the carries.
This quiet outing capped off a challenging rookie campaign for Hampton, the former North Carolina standout selected 22nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Injuries, including an earlier ankle fracture, limited him to just nine regular-season games, where he still showed flashes of his potential as a powerful, three-down back—rushing for 545 yards and four touchdowns on 124 carries (averaging a solid 4.4 yards per attempt) and adding 32 receptions for 192 yards and another score. When healthy, his vision, burst, and downhill style made him a promising piece of Jim Harbaugh’s run-first identity.
With no new injuries reported from the playoff loss, Hampton now heads into the offseason with a focus on full recovery and building on those early flashes. Chargers fans saw enough to believe he has Pro Bowl upside ahead, especially once he shakes off the injury setbacks that plagued his debut year. Tough way to end things, but the foundation is there for a stronger 2026.
