Chargers' Derwin James: Finishes 2024 with 5.5 sacks
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James logged 93 tackles (60 solo), including 5.5 sacks, seven pass defenses (including one interception) and one fumble recovery across 16 regular-season games in 2024.
James was seven tackles shy from registering his fourth-straight 100-tackle season (and fifth of his NFL career). However, he did manage to register a career-high 5.5 sacks -- two of which came in Week 17 against the Patriots -- which was fourth-most on the Chargers behind Tuli Tuipulotu (8.5), Bud Dupree (6.0) and Khalil Mack (6.0). James will likely start at safety for the 2025 campaign, but it's unclear whether it'll be Elijah Molden (shin), Marcus Maye (ankle) or someone else who will start alongside James.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Picks up two sacks Saturday
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James recorded 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery during Saturday's 40-7 win at New England.
James' 34 defensive snaps were his fewest in any of his appearances so far this season, but he was still able to put his mark on a blowout victory. One of his highlight plays Sunday came late in the third quarter, when he ran straight through Antonio Gibson on his way to taking down Drake Maye for a sack and forcing a turnover on downs. He's 10 tackles away from 100 on the year going into a Week 18 matchup at Las Vegas.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Double-digit stops, INT in win
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James recorded 10 total tackles (five solo) and an interception in Sunday's 17-13 win over the Falcons.
James played primarily at slot cornerback in Week 13, securing an interception to put the game on ice in the final moments of the fourth quarter. Additionally, the 10 tackles matched his season high, reaching that mark for the second time in three weeks. James has now compiled 75 total tackles (45 solo), including 2.5 sacks, while also adding an interception and five additional pass deflections over 11 games in 2024.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Logs 10 tackles vs. Bengals
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James tallied 10 tackles (seven solo), including 0.5 sacks, and one pass defense in Sunday's 34-27 win over Cincinnati.
Sunday marked the first time in the 2024 regular season that James registered 10 combined tackles, and he finished second on the Chargers in that category behind Daiyan Henley (11). James also logged his first sack since Week 3 against the Steelers, as he combined with Tuli Tuipulotu to take down Joe Burrow late in the first quarter for a four-yard loss. James has played 100 percent of the Chargers' defensive snaps in seven of nine regular-season games, and is up to 59 tackles (38 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and five pass defenses, on the season.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Makes eight tackles in loss
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James finished with eight tackles (five solo) in the Chargers' 17-15 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night.
The safety also played on all 55 defensive snaps, the fourth time in his five games this season that he's played on every defensive snap. James has 32 tackles (21 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two passes defensed in 2024.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Suspension upheld
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James (suspension) had his one-game suspension upheld Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
James will be forced to sit out Sunday's matchup with Kansas City after violating the league's playing rules, leaving Los Angeles a little thin against the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. In his place, AJ Finley and Elijah Molden will likely see an increase in workload in the secondary.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Plethora of tackles in sixth season
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James finished the 2023 campaign with 125 tackles (86 solo), seven passes defensed, two sacks and one interception across 16 games for the Chargers.
James compiled the third-most total tackles among all NFL safeties and made his most appearances since his 2018 rookie campaign, but the veteran defender wasn't quite the same playmaker as he had been in past seasons. The 27-year-old offers a level of versatility that's unmatched by most defensive backs in the league, but the Chargers could need even more production from him in 2024 with the team expected to lose a few key veterans due to cap constraints this offseason.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Double-digit tackles in loss
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James had 11 tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 24-7 loss to the Broncos.
James reached double-digit tackles for the fourth time this season and played every single defensive snap for the fourth time in five games. He's now up to 91 total tackles in 12 games, which is second only to Kenneth Murray (100) on the Chargers. James could reach the century mark in stops as early as Thursday night against the Raiders, which would be the third straight season he's reached that milestone in his five-year career.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Gets first INT of season in win
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James had five tackles (four solo) and an interception in Sunday's 30-13 win over the Bears.
He picked off Tyson Bagent in the fourth quarter on a pass intended for Darnell Mooney, which was James' first regular season interception since Week 16 of the 2022 season. His 37 tackles this season is behind the pace of the 115 he registered last year, and it seems unlikely the safety will reach 100-plus tackles for a third straight season.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Active Week 7
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James (ankle) will be active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
James sustained a minor ankle injury during practice Thursday, which left him sidelined for Friday's session and thus questionable to play Week 7. The three-time Pro Bowler was reportedly considered a game-time decision, so it appears he was able to make it through pregame warmups well enough to suit up Sunday. Over four games this season, James has tallied 27 tackles and two passes defended, and he should continue to play a crucial, do-it-all role in the Chargers defense.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Viewed as game-time call Sunday
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James (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest against the Chiefs, is viewed as a game-time decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A mid-week addition to the Chargers' injury report after tweaking his ankle in Thursday's practice, James didn't participate in Friday's session en route to taking a questionable tag into the weekend. Despite closing the practice week on a down note, James will be evaluated in pregame warmups before the Chargers make a call on his status when they release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. While suiting up for four of the Chargers' first five games, James has accrued 27 tackles and two pass breakups. Los Angeles has already ruled its other starting safety, Alohi Gilman (heel), out for the contest, so the secondary could be spread even more thin against the Kansas City passing attack if James can't gain clearance to play.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Sensational season
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James finished the 2022-23 season with 115 tackles (64 solo), four sacks, an additional tackle for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 14 games.
James had another phenomenal season, as he led the Chargers in forced fumbles and recorded the second-most tackles. The Pro Bowl safety also had the most sacks of his career, and he wasn't as hampered by injuries as in prior seasons. Assuming he stays healthy, James should be expected to produce at a high level once again in 2023, in addition to during the upcoming postseason.
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Chargers' Derwin James: In concussion protocol
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Chargers head coach Brandon Staley confirmed after Monday's 20-3 win over the Colts that James has entered the concussion protocol, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
The Pro Bowl safety recorded an interception in the first quarter, but James' night ended early when he drew a targeting penalty and an immediate ejection on a second-quarter tackle. James suffered a head injury on the same play and will now need to clear the five-step protocol in order to be eligible to play this Sunday against the Rams. James previously missed the past two games with a quadriceps injury.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Limited to begin Week 16
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James (quadriceps) was a limited participant during the Chargers' practice Thursday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
James has missed the Bolts' last two games while dealing with a quad injury, though he managed to return to practice in a limited fashion for the first time Thursday. The 26-year-old will now have two more practices to increase his activity before Monday's game against the Colts. James has played a starring role across all levels of the Chargers' defense over 12 games this season, so his availability could be a significant factor as the team faces Indianapolis' sputtering offense.
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Chargers' Derwin James: May return to practice soon
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Coach Brandon Staley said Monday that James (quadriceps) could return to practice this week ahead of Monday's game at Indianapolis, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
After missing the Chargers' last two games with a quadriceps injury he sustained in Week 13 at Las Vegas, it seems James might have a chance to come back for Week 16. He's arguably the team's best defensive player, so they'd like to have him back as quickly as possible as they jockey for a playoff spot.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Full go Thursday
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James (hip) was listed as a full participant on the Chargers' injury report Thursday.
James popped up with a hip injury and did not practice Wednesday. However, this issue appears to have been minor given his ability to return for Thursday's session. James has recorded a team-high 100 tackles to go along with four sacks over 11 games this season, and he should continue to fill a role as one of the league's most versatile defenders against Las Vegas on Sunday.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Sidelined Wednesday
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James (hip) did not participate during the Chargers' practice Wednesday.
James recorded eight tackles, one interception and a forced fumble while playing every defensive snap Week 12 against Arizona, though he appears to have come away from this game with a hip issue. While his lack of participation in the first practice Week 13 is concerning, he will still have two more practices to increase his activity ahead of Sunday's game against Las Vegas. James has been the best all-around player in the Chargers' flawed defense this season, so his potential absence would be a massive loss against a potent Raiders offense.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Logs double-digit tackles again
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James recorded 13 tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble during Sunday's 22-16 defeat versus San Francisco.
James fell one tackle shy of tying his season high from Week 5 against Cleveland. After forcing five total turnovers last year, the safety rammed the ball out of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's hands in the first quarter, marking his first forced fumble of the season. With a team-leading 85 stops (49 solo) over nine games, James is on pace to comfortably set a new career high in tackles this season.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Records third sack of 2022
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James recorded nine tackles (four solo), including a sack, in the Chargers' 20-17 win over the Falcons in Week 9.
James finished one tackle behind Drue Tranquill for the team lead on Sunday, also recording his third sack of the campaign in the victory. The safety has yet to intercept a pass over eight games this year, but he's compiled 72 tackles while deflecting three passes to this point in 2022. James remains one of the best strong safeties in the league and is a valuable IDP option moving forward.
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Chargers' Derwin James: Modest production in win
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James posted six tackles (three solo) and two pass defenses during Sunday's 34-24 win over the Texans.
Through four games, James has totaled 30 tackles, three pass defenses and one sack. The dynamic playmaker appears on pace for another All-Pro season and will look to continue his strong play against the Browns in Week 5.
