The Chargers most recently fell 35-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending the team’s three-game win streak

Omarion Hampton’s return will have to wait another week.

After missing the Los Angeles Chargers’ last six games, the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft will be kept off the gridiron Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders in the Chargers’ No. 12 game of the 2026-2026 season. The Chargers are coming off a bye week and a 29-point loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 16 – ending the three-game win streak.

The former RB1 returned to the Chargers’ practices this week, and despite being ruled out of Sunday’s contest, offensive coordinator Greg Roman has stated that the Los Angeles squad will utilize a 1-2 punch from the backfield with Hampton and Vidal – the team’s main tailback since losing Hampton and running back Najee Harris.

Vidal has been inconsistent in his time as the Chargers’ featured back, running for 95-plus yards in alternating weeks from Oct. 12 onwards, including a 124-yard performance against the Miami Dolphins, a 117-yard rushing attack against the Minnesota Vikings and a 95-yard night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, Vidal’s high-performance games are balanced by inefficient production in the weeks in between, notching 20 yards against the Indianapolis Colts, 30 ground yards against the Tennessee Titans, and just 13 yards in the Chargers’ most recent defeat by the Jaguars.

After a loss that brought the Los Angeles squad to 7-4, the Chargers should have a good opportunity for a rebound performance against the Raiders, their division rivals.

The Raiders are 2-9 in the NFL and rank last in the AFC West, and are riding a five-game losing streak. The Las Vegas squad has scored 20-plus points in just one of the Raiders’ last seven games, resulting in the removal of Chip Kelly as the team’s offensive coordinator.

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Under Kelly’s tutelage of the offense, the Raiders offense tied for No. 31 in scoring, ranked No. 30 in total offense, No. 31 in rushing offense – despite drafting Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft – No. 25 in passing offense and No. 31 in sacks allowed. 

Despite the departure of Kelly and the offense’s lack of prowess, quarterback Geno Smith looks to remain the Raiders’ starter under center. Smith has thrown for 2,367 passing yards and 13 touchdowns on a 66.6% completion percentage. However, Smith’s pitfall comes with his miscues – throwing 13 interceptions through 11 games, matching his passing touchdown total.

Smith’s main targets, and the Chargers’ threats to be aware of, include tight end Brock Bowers and outside wide receiver Tre Tucker. Bowers, who broke multiple rookie records last season, has amassed 510 yards – second most behind Tucker – and three receiving touchdowns.

Tucker leads the Raiders with 530 receiving yards and five touchdowns and has seen an increased role after the departure of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Meyers has been essential to the Raiders’ offense over the past few seasons and still ranks third on the team in receiving yards despite only playing seven games in a Raiders uniform this season.

The Raiders offense has struggled all season long and is in disarray, setting up the Chargers for what could be a perfect bounce-back affair.