Kimani Vidal waited within the shadows of a tailback logjam.
The one-two punch of Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton blocked a path to constant taking part in time. Nevertheless, after Harris and Hampton had been positioned on injured reserve, questions arose about who would lead the Chargers’ working sport behind its deteriorating offensive line.
Vidal, the second-year working again who performed sporadically final season, didn’t make the 53-man roster to start the season. The Troy College alumnus lastly earned his alternative to begin for the primary time final Sunday in opposition to Miami.
“I was most excited about him as next man up,” coach Jim Harbaugh advised reporters final week. “[It’s] not another game to him. It’s the game.”
And Vidal flourished. He rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries and in addition tallied a receiving landing. Amongst working backs in Week 6 with 10 or extra carries, Vidal ranked fourth in yards per carry (6.9 yards) and third in yards earlier than contact. With 72 of his dashing yards in opposition to the Dolphins coming earlier than impression, the 5-foot-8 tailback had 4 carries for 10 yards or extra.
“It felt good,” Vidal mentioned, “to get in the flow of the game and really provide for the team.”
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman mentioned that Vidal has continued to develop and develop regardless of uncertainty about when the following alternative would come up.
Quarterback Justin Herbert complimented Vidal — who’s sharing reps with Hassan Haskins till Hampton returns — and the under-the-radar traits he’s proven, comparable to improved move safety.
“You can never have enough of those guys on your team,” Herbert mentioned. “You lose a couple backs, and you feel like you can put Kimani out there and he can go make a play.”
Vidal wasn’t the one youthful participant on the roster making an impression. Rookie large receiver Tre’ Harris has finished the little issues, comparable to run blocking — even stuffing Miami defensive finish Bradley Chubb final week — to show right into a must-watch participant for Roman.
“Tre’ Harris kind of reminds me of a quote somebody told me a long time ago,” Roman mentioned, including that Harris reminds him of former NFL large receiver Anquan Boldin.
“The same man could never jump into the same river. Tre’ Harris is the same guy every day.”
Chargers large receiver Tre’ Harris avoids Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas in the course of the second half of the Chargers’ 29-27 win on Oct. 12.
(Rebecca Blackwell / Related Press)
Harbaugh mentioned Harris had key blocks on 9 dashing performs in opposition to Miami. Roman famous his means to get yards after catch — he has averaged 4.9 yards after receptions. The Chargers’ second-round choice had 4 catches for 27 yards in opposition to the Dolphins.
“Just being consistent, being the guy we can count on — run game, pass game,” large receiver Keenan Allen mentioned when requested about Harris. “He comes in … being able to do the tough things — the dirty work.”
For Harris, the adjustment to the NFL hasn’t been straightforward, testing his motivation, he mentioned.
Lining up subsequent to Allen, Quentin Johnston and McConkey has brought about the wideout, Roman mentioned, to create his personal area of interest. It’s all about discovering methods to get on the sector, Harris mentioned — one thing he’s achieved in every of the primary six video games.
“I gotta find my own way to get on the field and block,” Harris mentioned. “And that’s what I’m going to do. That’s how I’m taking my approach.”
