Chargers plan multi-back rotation as Harris nears return

Najee Harris continued to take steps toward a return from a July Fourth eye injury, participating in drills with a trainer off to the side and moving closer to practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury, described as superficial, has kept him on the nonfootball injury list since camp began, but Harris’s teammates and leadership say the plan remains to sort through a crowded backfield as the regular season approaches. The Chargers’ opening game is set for Sept. 5 in Brazil against the Kansas City Chiefs, a matchup that will test a running game that has undergone notable changes this off-season.

Harris’s status remains uncertain for Week 1, even as he shows incremental progress. His agent stated the injury is superficial and that Harris remains confident he will be ready for the season, while head coach Jim Harbaugh has been noncommittal about Harris’s availability for the opener. A photo circulating last week appeared to show Harris struggles in opening his left eye, though Harbaugh indicated Harris can still open it, a sign that might signal a smoother path to a return than initially feared. In the meantime, the Chargers have not halted their assessment of the position,...