Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury, but is not a candidate for injured reserve, head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters on Monday.
After entering the weekend with a "questionable" tag, James was officially downgraded to inactive hours before Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Although James had been dealing with a fractured pinky finger sustained in previous weeks and even planned to play without his protective cast, the hamstring issue proved severe enough to keep him off the field. It remains unclear exactly when or how he aggravated the muscle.
With James sidelined, Elijah Molden is the primary player tasked with stepping up. Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens and rookie Genesis Smith will also be relied
on.
While James remains the undisputed heart of the secondary and signed a massive three-year, $75.6 million extension as the league's highest-paid safety, he could still be a trade candidate to a championship contender, giving the front office the draft capital it needs to rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Derwin James injury: How long is Chargers safety expected to be out?
