4. An update on Omarion Hampton
Harbaugh was also asked about the status of rookie running back Omarion Hampton, who returned to practice last week but was not activated for Sunday’s game.
“We opened his window and we certainly wouldn’t have done that — his 21-day window — if he wasn’t close. Again, feel like he’s been on track and let the week play out,” Harbaugh said.
Hampton has been on Injured Reserve since suffering an ankle injury in Week 5. He said last week that he was excited to get back on the field at some point and help the Bolts with a playoff push.
“It feels good, feels great just to be back out with the guys. Couldn’t ask for nothing better,” Hampton said Thursday.
He later added: “I don’t know a percentage, but I feel super good. I’m getting back to where I’m at. Getting more comfortable with it, so I feel really good where I’m at.”
Hampton had been one of the Chargers most productive offensive players before his injury, tallying 86 total touches for 450 yards and two touchdowns.
5. Praise for the physicality
Sunday’s win over the Raiders was a Harbaugh-type victory through and through, meaning the Bolts dominated up front, especially in the trenches with the run game.
The Chargers ran for 192 yards, their second-highest total of the season, while allowing a season-low 31 rushing yards to the Raiders. The difference of plus-161 yards was the Chargers second-best mark of the season only behind the Vikings win.
And you can bet Harbaugh loved how the Bolts responded after a down day in the trenches in Week 11.
“There was definitely a point of emphasis on it. All things paid dividends and were all pieces of the puzzle schematically,” Harbaugh said. “There was a lot of variation, we probably ran 30 different types of runs during the game so that was really good.”
Harbaugh singled out numerous position groups for their efforts, beginning with the offensive line of Jamaree Salyer, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton and Trey Pipkins III.
“Just the play and physicality of the offensive line, each guy across the front graded out over 90 percent. Some guys had their best games … just played really good,” Harbaugh said,
He later added: “Just the play, the patience, the pride, the commitment to be better, that was a huge factor.”
Vidal was critical, too, rushing for a career-best 126 yards on 25 attempts to best his previous best by two yards. Both Vidal and Jaret Patterson ran for scores, with the later rushing for 54 yards on 11 carries.
“Some stellar plays by Kimani Vidal,” Harbaugh said. “And J-Pat … great to see his first touchdown [with the Chargers] and the yards after contact he created.”
Harbaugh also credited the Chargers pass catchers with hanging tough against a division-rival defense. While it was a relatively quiet day on the stat sheet, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston found the end zone and Keenan Allen came up clutch on third downs.
“You talk about tough, physical play, it was anybody who had the ball in their hands during the game was able to not turn it over,” Harbaugh said. “There were hard hits and contested catches by the receivers.”
