Chargers top running back to miss week 18 finale vs Broncos

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their star quarterback and starting running back when they face the Denver Broncos in Week 18

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Jan 2, 2026, 2:28 PM Updated: 6:01 pm

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The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their star quarterback and starting running back when they face the Denver Broncos in Week 18 — and that game has many playoff implications for the NFL.

The Broncos are fighting for the AFC’s top seed, which comes with a bye. Meaning if the team takes care of business against a banged-up Chargers squad, they would need to just win twice at home for a trip to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is knocked from hosting their first game since they can no longer win the AFC West, but they can finish anywhere from fifth to seventh, based on other stuff happening on Sunday.

The potential Patriots-Chargers matchup is so fascinating because …

Every Patriots fan I've seen wants them to face the Chargers.

And everyone I've seen with the Chargers wants them to face the Patriots. https://t.co/KD3ALPeelT pic.twitter.com/Ysb5rJGVj7

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) January 2, 2026

The Chargers will take the field without their Pro Bowl quarterback and rookie running back, who has dashed to being one of the better rushers in the NFL. It means Trey Lance will start and Kimani Vidal may get the call at tailback. But he’s also on the final injury report so that could lead to third-stringer Hassan Haskins getting the No. 1 job for the day.

Chargers game status

OUT – RB Omarion Hampton, CB NIkko Reed

Doubtful – OT Jamaree Salyer, S Elijah Molden

QUESTIONABLE – C Bradley Bozeman, RB Hassan Haskins, S RJ Mickens, CB Benjamin St Juste, RB Kimani Vidal

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) January 2, 2026

Lance will be making his sixth career NFL start. He’s appeared in three games this season, but hasn’t played much, completing seven of 13 passes for 90 yards. He was a former first-round bust who has bounced from the 49ers to the Cowboys and now the Chargers.

Haskins has just 44 rushing yards on the year and 226 over his three NFL seasons over 43 games. Vidal is actually the Chargers’ leading rusher on the year at 631 over 12 games. But that’s because Hampton was limited to nine games, where he took the ball 545 yards.

The Broncos just keep becoming bigger favorites for the game as the Chargers have announced who is sitting. Denver is expected to win by over a dozen, according to the oddsmakers. The line shifted multiple points right after the big Herbert news was announced and another point after Hampton was ruled out.

It’s all in front of the Broncos now, they just have to take it.