33 Derwin James FS

James (knee) was a full participant in OTAs this past week, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.

James missed the entire 2020 season after tearing his meniscus during training camp, the second consecutive time his season was cut short due to a knee injury. The 24-year-old will look to put that history behind him as James rejoins a Chargers defense that was near the bottom in terms of turnovers forced last season.

James (knee) has had his fifth-year option exercised by the Chargers, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

James is coming off back-to-back season-ending knee injuries, but he'll now at least have the benefit of being fully healthy for the eventual start of offseason workouts, and knowing that he'll remain with the Chargers through 2022. As one of the best safeties in the league when healthy, James stands to be a high-end IDP asset for the 2021 campaign as long as he can stay on the field.

James is expected to be fully recovered from his August knee surgery in about one month, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.

James missed the entirety of the 2020 season due to a knee injury he suffered during training camp in August. The 24-year-old is optimistic he'll be cleared for full physical activity in approximately one month, a development that would bode well with respect to his availability for OTAs beginning this spring.

James (knee) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

James is already on season-ending injured reserve, so this transaction signals that he either tested positive for the virus or came into close contact with an infected person. He'll be required to clear the league's COVID-19 protocols before returning to the Chargers' facilities.

The Chargers placed James (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.

For the second year in a row, James has incurred a season-ending injury, this time a meniscus issue in his right knee that will require surgery. In his place, the Chargers will entrust Rayshawn Jenkins with starting duties at strong safety.

James (knee) is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his knee and is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 months, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

James left Sunday's practice early, and the reason was initially described as a hamstring strain. However, it turns out he suffered a meniscus injury in his right knee that will require surgery. It's a significant blow for the Chargers, and it means the 24-year old will go a two-year stretch with only five games played. When healthy, he's considered one of the best safeties in the league, but he'll now have to set his sights on recovering for 2021.

James (knee) is expected to miss significant time due to a meniscus injury in his right knee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

James exited Sunday's practice early due to what was initially reported as a hamstring strain but which has now been disclosed to be a meniscus issue. Losing the star safety for a significant number of games would be a huge blow for the Chargers defense, though it at least sounds like the door is open for him to retake the field at some point in 2020. Pending further medical evaluation, Rapoport reports that the options for James are a meniscus trim (four-week recovery timetable) or a full meniscus repair (multi-month timetable).

James suffered a hamstring strain Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter says it's too early to tell if the injury is significant, but it sounds like James has some level of concern, as he threw his gloves in frustration before entering the medical tent, per Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register. He'll have exactly two weeks to return to health before the Chargers face the Bengals in Week 1 (Sept. 13).

James left Sunday's practice with an injury, walking off the field to the trainer's tent, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

James missed the first 11 games of last season while recovering from a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, but he's otherwise been everything the Chargers hoped for when they made him the 17th overall pick of the 2018 draft. Any absence in the regular season would be a huge blow to the team's defense, potentially leaving Nasir Adderley and Rayshawn Jenkins as the starting duo at safety. Of course, this may just be a minor injury, considering James was able to walk of the practice field without assistance.

James finished the 2019 season with 34 tackles (23 solo) and a pass defended across five games.

Continuing the pattern of annual critical Chargers early-season injuries, James missed the majority of the 2019 campaign after suffering a stress fracture in his foot during the preseason. The second-year safety looked uneasy in his first few games back, but by the end of the campaign was routinely causing problems in and around the line of scrimmage. When healthy, James is one of the best safeties in the NFL, and should be a Pro Bowl candidate once again in 2020.

James posted eight tackles (five solo) in the 24-17 loss Sunday to the Raiders.

It's fair to wonder how different the Chargers defense could have been if James were healthy all season, as the safety has been a demonstrative force in the four games since returning from a stress fracture in his foot. He'll be arguably one of the top IDP options at his position come 2020 so long as he's able to maintain his health in a meaningless Week 17 contest against the Chiefs.

James tallied nine tackles (six solo) in the 39-10 loss Sunday to the Vikings.

In the three games since coming off injured reserve, James immediately has been thrust into the starting role, playing all but four snaps. Sunday's outing was by far the most effective for the second-year safety, although he's yet to pick up any sort of turnover or sack. Still, the 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up is once again reasserting his worth at safety, allowing for the Chargers to use their myriad of secondary options in different ways.

James (foot) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.

The Chargers activated both James and Adrian Phillips (forearm) on Saturday, adding a significant layer of depth to an injured-riddled secondary. The second-year safety missed the first 12 games of the season after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot, which required surgery.

James (foot) has been designated for return from injured reserve, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

Coming off a Week 12 bye, the Chargers were authorized to hold an informal practice Monday, which James may have attended. In any case, he's getting close to the end of the road in his recovery from a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. If everything goes as planned this week, there's a chance James is elevated to the 53-man roster for Sunday's game at Denver.

James (foot) could suit up against the Broncos in Week 13, Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reports.

James is recovering from offseason surgery to address a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, and he's now nearing the end of his three-month recovery timetable. The Chargers have yet to activate the 2018 first-round pick for a return from IR, but such a move will likely be made prior to Week 13's tilt against Denver. A return to the lineup by James, who earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods as a rookie, would signify a notable boost for Los Angeles' secondary.

James (foot) is targeting a Week 13 return against Denver, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

James is already running free of pain, so it shouldn't be too much longer until he returns to practice on a limited basis. It's unclear what version of James we'll see once he's activated from IR, but if the Chargers are still in the mix for a playoff berth at that time, James could be the boost this team needs. The defense is already capable of generating pressure while rushing only four players, so potentially adding a top defensive back to the mix could be devastating for opposing passing games.

Coach Anthony Lynn said James (foot) won't begin practicing Wednesday and it may take "some time" before he can return, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

This doesn't hint at any sort of timeline for James, but it doesn't appear he'll be able to play Week 9 or Week 10, which is a Thursday night game against the Raiders. The Chargers could use James' generational talent as they look to scrape together a decent ending to the season. He'll need to return to practice first, and it's unclear when that will happen.

James (foot) is no longer wearing a protective walking boot on his right foot, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

James underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his right foot Aug. 22 and has been on injured reserve since the start of the regular season. The 23-year-old was given an initial recovery timeline of about three months, which would allow him to potentially return sometime in November. James will officially be eligible to return from IR after Week 8, but the Chargers haven't announced his current timetable.

James (foot) is targeting a return to the field during the 2019 season, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.

James is working to recover from a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, for which he underwent surgery Aug. 22. His placement on IR guarantees that James will miss at least the first eight games of 2019, but it's possible that he could return in November if his recovery goes as scheduled. If James is indeed able to retake the field, his presence will be a notable boost for the Chargers' secondary.

James (foot) has been placed on injured reserve, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

James had surgery Aug. 22 to address a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He's expected to need about three months for recovery, though the Chargers technically can bring him back for Week 9 against the Packers (Nov. 3). With the budding superstar ruled out for at least eight games, Adrian Phillips is expected to take over as the starter at strong safety.