Before practice on Wednesday, HC Jim Harbaugh rattled off his weekly list of player participation statuses. S Elijah Molden, LT Jamaree Salyer, C Bradley Bozeman, and CB Donte Jackson were all announced as participants in practice. Harbaugh said that RB Omarion Hampton, EDGE Bud Dupree, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and S Kendall Williamson would not participate on Wednesday.
The Chargers also opened up the practice window for TE Tucker Fisk to return. He will count as one of the two extra IR activation slots that the Chargers get as a result of making the playoffs. LA used all eight of their activations from IR in the 2025 regular season.
There's good news and bad news in the Chargers' first practice report of the week.
Salyer (limited, Hamstring) is the key positive development. The Chargers need him with how much he has stabilized the left tackle spot relative to their other backup options. Harbaugh said today that the projected offensive line from left to right would be Salyer, LG Zion Johnson, C Bradley Bozeman, RG Mekhi Becton, and RT Trey Pipkins III. All five did not play in last week's matchup vs. Denver in largely rest decisions.
wednesday's #LACvsNE injury report pic.twitter.com/kp9OfFyscu
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 7, 2026
Jackson (limited, ankle) practicing is a good sign too. He left the Denver game with an ankle injury and was cleared to potentially go back in. He remained on the sidelines for the rest of the game, but there was some doubt out there as far as his availability for the Patriots game. A registered limited Wednesday practice is a great development compared to how bad the injury could’ve been.
The bad news is of course the DNP for Hampton in Wednesday's practice. Hampton was seen working off to the side with trainers. This current ankle injury is actually not on the ankle that landed him on IR for a two month stint. He rolled it in the Texans game, but was able to still play in the remainder of the fourth quarter after.
Hampton still has the potential to participate in practice on Thursday or Friday. But whether he can go in some capacity or not, RB Kimani Vidal would likely be in store for an increased workload.
Justin Herbert took snaps under center midweek in practice for the first time since his hand injury vs. the Raiders. He said the week of rest vs. Denver and lack of hits has his hand feeling better.
Keenan Allen and Khalil Mack did not practice on Wednesday as both vets sat for rest. This has been the standard process for both players throughout most of the 2025 regular season.
As long as the Chargers can get Hampton back for practice on Thursday or Friday, it’s a better than expected injury situation for the team on the whole.