Strong safety Derwin James has quickly made an impact in the NFL since the Los Angeles Chargers chose him in the first round of the 2018 draft (17th overall), including winning a starting job out of his first training camp and being named a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season. But he’s also battled quite a few injuries, from a strained hamstring in training camp in 2018 to a 2019 stress fracture in his foot that required surgery and caused him to miss 11 games last season. And now, as per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the injury James (seen above warming up ahead of a game against the Minnesota Vikings last December) sustained in practice Sunday has him “likely to miss significant time”:
#Chargers star safety Derwin James is likely to miss significant time with a meniscus injury he suffered during today’s practice, I’m told. James was expected to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and will now have to wait and see when he will be back on the field.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2020
NFL.com’s Grant Gordon has more on what could be ahead for James:
Now comes the waiting game of just how long it will be until James can return to the film.
With the waiting game comes options, pending further evaluation, though each of them would see James with an elongated absence. One possibility is a meniscus trim, which could be four or so weeks, or a full repair, which would bring upon several months on the shelf, Rapoport reported.
Multiple reports were that James left practice grabbing his right leg, clearly frustrated, and entered the medical tent.
So this seems like quite a blow for the Chargers. And it will also be interesting to see how it’s covered on Hard Knocks, which is covering the Rams and Chargers this season. Episode 4 airs Wednesday at 10 ET/PT on HBO.
Update: Rapoport reported Monday that James is likely to be out six to eight months, so likely the entire 2020 season.
Source: #Chargers star S Derwin James needs surgery and is out 6 – 8 months. Brutal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2020
[NFL.com]
