Despite dealing with a multitude of injuries, the 11-6 Los Angeles Chargers managed to secure a spot in the NFL playoffs. Standing in their way of advancing, however, are the two-seeded 14-3 New England Patriots on Sunday night.
Ahead of kickoff (8:00 p.m. on NBC and Peacock), Chargers RB Omarion Hampton is at less than 100%. He’s nursing an ankle injury, even after sitting out Week 18’s regular-season finale. In order to overcome MVP candidate QB Drake Maye and New England, L.A. may need all the help it can get.
Let’s take a closer look at an Omarion Hampton injury update and what it could mean for Los Angeles on Sunday. We’ll also weave in PrizePicks player projections for Chargers vs. Patriots on Wild Card Weekend.
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Omarion Hampton Injury Update: Will He Play on Sunday vs. Patriots?
This isn’t the first time Hampton has been hampered by an ankle issue. Back in Week 5’s 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders, he sustained a sprain that led to him not returning until Week 14.
Over the next four games, the first-round pick averaged 57.8 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards while adding 3 total TDs. Right when he started to look like the player the Chargers took 22nd overall last April, he got banged up again.
Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be anything too major. Hampton was listed by Los Angeles as questionable for Sunday, but he plans to play. This comes after he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before progressing to limited participation on Friday.
Given the importance of the playoffs, Hampton and the Chargers seem to be making the most of the situation in a win-or-go-home scenario.
Chargers’ Offensive Outlook for Wild Card Round vs. Patriots
The primary player who could be affected by Hampton’s expected return is RB Kimani Vidal. He's the Chargers’ leading rusher, pacing the field with 155 carries for 643 yards and 3 TDs. He also hauled in 16 passes for 136 yards and another score.
Los Angeles and their promising rookie face a tall task on Sunday. The Patriots allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards to RBs (1,311) in the regular season. Additionally, per SumerSports, their -0.05 EPA per play on defense ranks 11th.
Hampton being available might also assist QB Justin Herbert. Among signal-callers with 250+ plays, he trailed only Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen in rushing yards with 498 from Weeks 1-17. In Weeks 6-13, without Hampton, he went over 30 rushing yards three separate times.
Two Hampton-specific things that can come to Herbert’s aid are tackle evasion and receiving. Per NFL Pro, despite being contacted on 52.4% of his carries this year, the first-year man forced a missed tackle on 29.8% of tries. Of 64 RBs with 50+ rushes in 2025-26, his 12.32% target share was 10th.
Justin Herbert Projections vs. Patriots on Wild Card Weekend
Here are some of Justin Herbert’s player projections for Sunday vs. the Patriots, courtesy of PrizePicks.
- 225.5 Pass Yards
- 20.5 Pass Completions
- 31.5 Pass Attempts
- 28.5 Rush Yards
- 258.5 Pass + Rush Yards
- 18 Fantasy Score
- And More
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Make Chargers vs. Patriots Picks on PrizePicks
It’s do-or-die time for all 14 teams in the NFL playoffs, and Chargers vs. Patriots picks aren’t the only ones available leading up to Super Bowl LX in February.
You can make NFL postseason picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 30 states.
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