Chargers RB Najee Harris 'ramping up' to play Friday vs. Chiefs

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Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris is preparing as if he’ll be able to play in Friday’s battle versus the Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil.

“I’m ramping up to it,” Harris said on Monday via the team’s official website. “Every day I’ve practiced — this is my fifth day at practice —just trying to get in that football shape. I’m feeling good, though. We’ll just see where it leads.”

Harris was cleared for his first contact practice on Monday after missing all of training camp due to an eye injury suffered during a fireworks mishap.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said there is a “possibility” that Harris could play on Friday, but stopped short of guaranteeing the free-agent signee from Pittsburgh would be active. Harris reiterated Harbaugh’s stance that he’s taking it one day at a time.

“I mean, yeah, but we’re just ramping up to it. We’ll see where it takes us,” Harris said when asked if he expects to play.

The 27-year-old declined to specify how his eye injury occurred and deflected questions about wearing sunglasses or a visor. Harris called the damage “superficial” and said his vision was unaffected. His preparation for joining a new club was knocked off kilter.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Harris said. “I’m still going through it in a way. Just that whole situation shows how things can change with a snap of a finger…. It’s a blessing every day that we wake up, and I’m just happy that everybody is safe.”

Harris said that during his time on the non-football injury list, he did what he could to gear up for the season.

“Recovering, staying in shape, trying to stay on top of the playbook,” Harris said. “Just trying to have the same resume while being from a different position. Obviously, I was on NFI, so it kind of makes things a little more difficult, can’t be on the field and stuff. Just trying to have the same schedule, just not with the team.”

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