Raheim Sanders currently shows up pretty far down the Los Angeles Chargers’ depth chart.
But if the rookie running back can continue to impress the way he did on Sunday, Aug. 10, against the New Orleans Saints, he might move up that depth chart pretty quickly.
Sanders, 23, a Rockledge High graduate, scored his first NFL touchdown in his first NFL game, a 27-13 preseason win on Sunday.
Sanders scored on an 11-yard scamper in the fourth quarter with 1:52 remaining in the game.
“Just really trusting my read. As a running back, every play has different type of looks as a defensive front, being patient, I felt like that was my key thing, and I did that,” Sanders said in an interview on the Chargers’ official website.
He finished the game with the most carries by a running back from either team — 10 — and he was second in rushing at 42 yards, just 6 yards behind Chargers quarterback Trey Lance (48 yards rushing, 1 TD).
Sanders did not play in the Chargers’ Hall of Fame game July 31 against the Lions with an unspecified injury.
Getting back in a real game situation was something he had been waiting quite some time for.
“I didn’t get tackled since last year Clemson game (Nov. 30, 2024), because I didn’t play in the senior bowl, so I got a little touch and then felt good about it,” Sanders said. “It definitely felt unreal. Glad to be here.”
Sanders hadn’t seen the end zone since scoring the week prior to the Clemson game, on Nov. 23, 2024, a 56-12 win over Wofford.
Sanders has a chance to make the final roster, especially with starting running back Najee Harris out with an eye injury suffered via fireworks on the Fourth of July.
In the interim, first-round rookie Omarion Hampton has acted as the lead back.
Aside from Sanders, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Nyheim Miller-Hines and Jaret Patterson remain in the mix to be the No. 2 back behind Hampton.
Sanders got Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s attention after his showing Sunday.
“I thought he did a really nice job,” Harbaugh said on the Chargers’ team website. “Ran hard, secured the ball, had some good tough runs. He’s been working through stuff and got out there today and showed what he could do.”
During his time at Rockledge High, Sanders was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and track.
Sanders played his first three years of college football at Arkansas, with injuries hampering his junior season.
He then transferred to South Carolina for his fourth and final year, where he had 881 yards rushing and a career-high 11 touchdowns, while also hauling in 27 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Sanders signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rockledge High grad Raheim Sanders scores first NFL touchdown for Los Angeles Chargers
Reporting by Tim Walters, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
