Another brutal injury blow to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Derwin James is headed to injured reserve, the team announced Saturday, Oct. 31. The news comes days after head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that James had suffered a setback in his return from a hamstring injury that has kept the All-Pro safety sidelined since Week 3.
This move pushes James' timeline back to a Week 12 return against the New England Patriots at the earliest.
The Chargers will also be without guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), defensive back Deane Leonard (concussion) and receiver Brenen Thompson (quad/hamstring) for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Corners Donte Jackson and Rodney Shelley are questionable as of Friday's injury report. Ladd McConkey sat
out Monday's practice with a concussion but was a full participant in practice the rest of the week and is expected to play.
James' setback is the latest in a litany of injuries to key players that have come to mire the winless Chargers' season. Tight end David Njoku injured his right knee/fibula in Week 2. Left tackle Rashawn Slater underwent surgery after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 4. Three additional offensive linemen are on the IR, with center Tyler Biadasz out for the season after tearing his ACL during a joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers in August. All in all, the Bolts now have nine players on the IR with the addition of James.
The 30-year-old out of Florida State has 21 total tackles, 12 solo tackles and a pass defended in three games played this season.
Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, and Genesis Smith have played well in James' absence, despite the team's record. They'll now be asked to hold the secondary down even longer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chargers place Derwin James on Injured Reserve after hamstring setback
