5 Takeaways: Jim Harbaugh on Chargers Bye Week Mindset, Omarion Hampton's Potential Return

Nov 17, 2025 at 04:50 PM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

The Chargers are 7-4 as they head into the bye week.

Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's Monday press conference.

1. Bye week mindset

The Chargers are about to go on an extended break for the bye week, but will do so coming off their worst loss of the season.

So, how does Harbaugh look at his team as Week 12 approaches?

Harbaugh said Monday that while there is certainly frustration after Sunday's loss, he has plenty of belief in the roster and the coaching staff to bounce back and be ready to go after the bye.

Harbaugh noted that overcoming adversity is part of life, and life in the NFL, and that everyone in the organization has excelled in that area at some point of their career.

"It's the whole team I have faith in. And they do as well," Harbaugh said. "Very, very tough men, plus faith, and that's what I believe, that's what I think of our team and every guy and women in the organization.

"They've all had issues to fix in their life and their careers in football and they wouldn't be here if they weren't good at that," Harbaugh said. "I know they know how to do it. I know they care. I know they're not going to back down."

At 7-4, the Chargers still reside in a playoff spot with six games to go ... and will be in a Wild Card spot after Week 12 no matter what happens with this weekend's slate of games.

The Bolts are currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC as the second Wild Card team.

2. A return for Hampton?

Harbaugh said earlier this month that Omarion Hampton could return to practice after the bye week.

The rookie running back has been on Injured Reserve since early October and would need his 21-day practice window to be activated in order to return to the field.

Is Hampton still in line to return to practice soon?

"We'll make that decision next week," Harbaugh said. "It all depends on how he progresses this week."

Hampton had been one of the Chargers most productive offensive players before his injury, tallying 86 total touches for 450 yards and two touchdowns.

The 22-year-old has 66 carries for 314 yards and a pair of scores so far on the ground.

Kimani Vidal has filled in as the Chargers top running back of late and has rushed for 417 yards and two scores on 96 attempts.

Harbaugh also had a health update on Vidal, who left Sunday's game in Jacksonville with a thigh injury but returned to the game.

"He was cleared to come back in," Harbaugh said.

3. Schedule tweak

A season ago, the Chargers had a Week 5 bye and had played just four games before getting a break.

The opposite happened this year as a Week 12 bye appeared on the Chargers schedule, meaning they endured 11 straight games — plus three games in the Eastern time zone and one in Brazil — before getting a weekend off.

As a result, Harbaugh tweaked the team's bye week schedule this year as the Bolts will not practice this week.

Players will instead be off from Tuesday to Sunday before returning to get ready for a Week 13 home game against the Raiders.

"I also felt like our team had earned two extra days, mainly a function of the team has been playing 15 straight games, 15 straight week, plus all the way back to the start of training camp," Harbaugh said. "My priority is that they are fresh, regroup and that's for players, coaches and staff. Come back ready to roll."

The Bolts reported to training camp way back on July 16, meaning it's been a nonstop grind that also included four preseason games.