Is Omarion Hampton Playing Tonight?
Omarion Hampton is active for the Los Angeles Chargers’ AFC Wild Card road game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Coinupbtc (@CoinUpBTC) on X, Omarion Hampton was reported healthy but ended up playing only two snaps, sparking questions about his actual game readiness.
He’d been listed as questionable with a right ankle issue during the week, but was officially cleared before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff and is available to play in his playoff debut.
The interesting wrinkle: despite being active, the broadcast showed Hampton on the sideline in a coat on the opening drive while fellow rookie Kimani Vidal took the first snaps at running back, suggesting the Chargers are easing Hampton in and feeling out how that ankle responds under playoff intensity.
It’s not a strict pitch count reports say he told NBC’s sideline crew he’s “good to go” with no snap restriction but it’s clear the staff wants to manage his usage and avoid another setback after a season already disrupted by ankle problems.
What Happened to Omarion Hampton?
Hampton’s status tonight is the continuation of a season-long fight with that right ankle. He missed eight games in his rookie year, first after a fractured ankle and then following another tweak late in the regular season that kept him out of the Chargers’ Week 18 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Dr. Jesse Morse (@DrJesseMorse) on X, Omarion Hampton appears to have suffered a moderate right ankle sprain during Week 17 on December 28, 2025, raising short-term concerns about his availability.
He returned to practice only late in the week, going from two straight DNPs to a limited session on Friday while wearing a substantial brace on the ankle.
The Chargers officially kept the designation cautious, labeling Hampton as “questionable” even after he told reporters he expected to play in New England.
That’s understandable: with Najee Harris already lost earlier in the year and the backfield banged up through the fall, they can’t afford another long-term absence.
From a rotation standpoint, the plan looks like Hampton leading the committee when he’s on the field, with Vidal, Hassan Haskins, and Jaret Patterson ready to absorb extra carries if the ankle limits him.
Omarion Hampton’s Stats
Even with the missed time, Hampton did enough in his first NFL regular season to justify the Chargers spending a first-round pick on him. He finished with 124 carries for 545 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus 32 catches for 192 yards and one receiving score.
That’s 5 total touchdowns and 737 yards from scrimmage on 156 touches, giving Los Angeles a much-needed dual-threat presence when he was actually available.
Those numbers echo the production profile he brought out of North Carolina, where he posted 1,660 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in one standout college season, with 38 catches for 373 yards and two more scores as a receiver.
Some fans will remember how often UNC leaned on him as a true workhorse; the Chargers haven’t gone that far yet, but the efficiency flashes are similar when he’s moving well.
Disclaimer:
Box office, injury status, and player availability details are based on publicly available reports and may change as official updates are released. Figures and designations are informational only and should not be treated as betting, financial, or medical advice. Always verify with official team or league sources.
