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Chargers’ Derwin James could be out for months after meniscus injury, report says

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The Los Angeles Chargers boast of one of the NFL’s most talented secondaries for the 2020 season, but it’s safe to say that the top of that unit could be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Pro Bowl safety Derwin James left the team’s Sunday training camp early after apparently injuring his hamstrings, but Reports from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network the 24-year-old actually suffered a meniscus injury that could keep him out of action for weeks to months.

James is “likely to miss a significant time” due to the injury, Rapoport said on Sunday night. “The options, pending further medical evaluation: a cut of the meniscus, which can last about four weeks. Or a full repair, which can take several months.”

Either way, it looks like James is a lock on missing the Chargers’ 2020 season start. The veteran originally came limping after a play in the Los Angeles scrum on Sunday, according to Illustrated sportsby Fernando Ramirez, and threw off one of his gloves in frustration as he walked over to the team’s medical tent. He then stayed in the tent for the rest of the practice.

The news is notable in part because James is already no stranger to chilling injuries from the offseason. After a dominant rookie campaign in 2018 in which he totaled 105 tackles and three interceptions as the leader of the Los Angeles defense, the former first-round draft pick suffered a stress fracture in his foot before the campaign 2019. The surgery sent James to the reserve injured before the season, and he remained there until the end of November, appearing in just five games.

An absence of around four weeks, the scheduled timeline for a meniscus cut, would theoretically have James ready to return for the start of October, or between three and four games in the Chargers’ season. A full repair, meanwhile, would likely result in James landing on IR for the second season in a row. The NFL would allow teams to nominate an unlimited number of eligible players to return from the IR during the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s possible James might not miss the entire season in this case.

The Chargers plan to look to No.3 safety Rayshawn Jenkins for additional work in James’ absence, although high profile free agent Earl Thomas has also been speculated as a potential target for the team. Second year male Nasir Adderley should start at the other safety point.

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