The LA Chargers worked out former Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines on Monday and he clearly left an impression. Hines likely didn't even leave the building before hitting pen to paper as the Chargers officially signed the veteran running back the same day.
Hines was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the most productive two-way backs in the league. However, Hines has not played in the NFL since the 2022 season. Hines suffered a leg injury away from football prior to the 2023 season that derailed both his '23 and '24 seasons.
The veteran running back getting another chance at an NFL roster spot should be the leading storyline of this signing. However, given recent events around the Chargers, the leading storyline instead centers around Najee Harris.
Chargers signing Nyheim Hines creates questions about Najee Harris' eye injury
Najee Harris suffered what his agent called a superficial eye injury in a firework mishap on the Fourth of July. As a result, Harris was placed on the NFI list by the Chargers at the start of training camp.
Everything around Harris' injury has made it seem like it won't impact his 2025 season. Neither Harris' camp or the Chargers have expressed any concern about his availability. For some Chargers fans, this has been enough reassurance.
However, experienced Chargers fans know not to take every injury update at face value. There have been so many times, especially last season under Jim Harbaugh, where injuries were downplayed as nonserious only to end up impacting someone for the entire season.
Remember last season when it appeared that Asante Samuel Jr. was only going to be out for a short time? He missed the rest of the 2024 season and still remains unsigned as he recovers from an injury that was initially communicated as minor.
Nothing is guaranteed until Harris actually steps on the practice field and proves he is ready for the 2025 season. And at the very least, it appears the Chargers are preparing for a situation in which the injury is more serious than expected.
In the best-case scenario, Hines merely serves as a much-needed camp body to help the Chargers during their extended preseason or training camp. In the worst-case scenario, Hines is in the running to make the Chargers' 53-man roster, as that would indicate that Harris is not ready to go.
Either way, Chargers fans have every right to worry about Harris' injury following the Hines signing. Time will tell if that worry was justified or not.