Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris suffered a “superficial eye injury” during a Fourth of July fireworks “mishap,” but should be ready to play this fall, his agent said.
Before joining L.A. this past spring, the 27-year-old has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his four NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” the player’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, said in a statement.
“Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”
A representative for the Chargers could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.
Harris is one of pro football’s most inspirational players, having been homeless for part of his childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a stellar career at Antioch High School and the University of Alabama, Harris was a first-round pick up the the Steelers.
Harris’ injury evoked memories of the 2015 Fourth of July fireworks incident that maimed New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
Though Pierre-Paul went on to a long and productive career, he wasn’t quite the same dominant force pre-injury.