The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big decision in the 2025 offseason, allowing running back Najee Harris to walk to see what Jaylen Warren could do as a starter. So far, it has not gone great for Pittsburgh. The rushing attack has had a few nice plays during the season, but overall, it has been one of the worst ground games in the NFL through three weeks. The unit lacks that strong presence between the tackles to pound a few yards out and set up the passing game. It could use someone like Harris.
Eric Hartline / USA Today
Steelers running back Najee Harris gets tackled by two Eagles defenders as the two franchises compete in a regular season football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
However, things have gone awry for Harris during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. He signed a one-year deal with them in 2025, but he suffered some sort of eye injury during a 4th of July fireworks accident, and that kept him out of training camp and preseason. That limited his reps overall, but he was starting to get back into the flow of things and get back on the moving train.
However, his time with the team could already be over as an active player, as he suffered a gruesome injury on a non-contact play. His season is all but over based on the replay.
Here is Chargers RB Najee Harris suffering an Achilles injury before he was carted off: pic.twitter.com/0rV5YQYU1K
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2025
Harris was very durable during his time with the Steelers. There were times where he seemed to be bothered by pain, but he never missed a game. Now, he will likely miss the next 14, and most likely any postseason contests in the slim chance that he heals up. All in all, it's a terrible situation for him, and fans in the Steel City hope for the best for him and his future.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Najee Harris running with the football against the Chargers.
What makes it even more likely that the Chargers will let him walk in free agency is their first-round rookie, Omarion Hampton. He has not done great up to this point, but he has shown off some great ability as a pass blocker, and the expectation is that he will continue to grow with the ball in his hands. Of course, he will get an increased role after Harris' unfortunate injury.
Steelers Have An Advantage That Helps With Non-Contact Injuries
The Steelers usually end up with a lot of bumps and bruises after games, but one thing that you very rarely see from games at Acrisure Stadium are ACL or Achilles tears. That is because the field is made of grass, as opposed to artificial turf. That makes so much more of a difference than one would think, but it works. The rest of the NFL needs to catch up with Pittsburgh in this regard.
With artificial turf, it is much harder to put your foot in the ground and turn up, as there is solid concrete under it. That means there is nowhere for the force to go, so it goes back up into the leg. That's what causes the tendons to tear without contact. Harris just put his foot int he ground so he could accelerate through the gap, but his Achilles tore before he could even take the handoff.
Gene Puskar / AP Photo
An overhead view of Acrisure Stadium, formerly known as Heinz Field.
With grass fields, there is plenty of Earth beneath the initial surface. When a player puts his foot in the ground to make a cut or accelerate, there is somewhere for that force to go. That was one of the reasons why Harris was so durable in Pittsburgh; he never had to worry about a ligament giving out on him during home games. For road games, it all depended on the location. That is also why he will most likely be on a new team
What do you think about Harris' brutal injury in Week 3, as well as the difference in grass fields and turf fields? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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