33 Derwin James FS

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.

James underwent surgery Thursday to repair a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per the report, he'll be placed on IR beginning Week 1, a move that would open the door for James to be designated to return once he's recovered. In the meantime, Adrian Phillips is expected to fill in as the Chargers' starting strong safety.

James (foot) will undergo surgery on his right foot to address the stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and is expected to miss around three months, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.

James will be in good hands as foot/ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson is slated to perform the surgery, but the former may now be sidelined until at least early November. It would make sense for the Chargers to put James on IR and eventually designate him as one of their two players to return from the list, as the 2018 first-rounder would then be eligible to take the field Week 9 against the Packers in an absolutely best-case scenario. Regardless of the timeline, Adrian Phillips is expected to fill in at safety alongside the first-team defense while James remains out.

James will be out indefinitely after sustaining a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, ESPN's Eric D. Williams reports.

This close to Week 1, it seems all but certain that James will miss time out of the gate this season. The talented 23-year-old racked up 105 tackles as a rookie in 2018, along with 3.5 sacks and three interceptions, en route to earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. In his absence, look for Adrian Phillips to fill in at strong safety.

James is dealing with a foot injury that could cost him "a significant amount of time," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

It remains to be seen how much action James will miss, but if his absence extends into the regular season, Adrian Phillips would likely be the player called upon to step up in James' usual top strong safety spot.

James was sporting a boot on his right ankle Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

As a result, the 2018 first-rounder missed Friday's practice and now looks iffy for Sunday's preseason game against the Saints. The Chargers starting safety is coming off an IDP-friendly rookie campaign in which he logged 105 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and a trio of picks.

James finished his rookie season with 105 tackles (75 solo), three sacks and three interceptions, plus 14 tackles (10 solo) during the playoffs.

If not for marvelous rookie performances by the Colts' Darius Leonard and the Cowboys' Leighton Vander Esch, James would almost be guaranteed the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, transforming a fearsome Chargers defense into a takeaway machine. The All-Pro safety could still easily win the honor, as he was one of only four secondary players to record 100-plus tackles and three or more interceptions this season. James is likely to be one of the premier fantasy IDP options at safety next season, and given his role is expected to expand in Year 2, there's reason to believe the versatile safety could be one of the best defensive fantasy players overall.

James finished Sunday's 26-21 win over the Bengals with seven tackles (six solo).

Despite finishing with seven tackles, Sunday marked just the fifth time all season the rookie didn't record either an interception or a sack. James has been an impressive playmaker for the Chargers this season and remains one of the best IDP options available each and every week.

James secured three tackles (two solo), three passes defended and an interception in the win Sunday over the Steelers.

It's hard to argue against James' case for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, as the safety intercepted another pass Sunday to bring his total to three. Well on his way to 100-plus tackles, James is as sure of an IDP option as it gets and should be poised for another strong outing against the Jeff Driskel-led Bengals next week.

James recorded seven tackles (five solo), one interception and two passes defended in Sunday's 45-10 win over the Cardinals.

Even with the return of Joey Bosa (foot), James was still the Chargers' primary playmaker on defense, recording his second interception of his young career. James has at least one interception or sack in six games this season and he could very well lead the team in tackles by the end of his first campaign.