Chargers safety Derwin James injured, out for the season

The Los Angeles Chargers got the worst Derwin James injury update possible on Monday. He’s out for 6-8 months.

Derwin James will have to undergo surgery on his injured knee, leaving him out for six to eight months, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Rapoport called the news, “brutal.” That seems about right.

The Los Angeles Chargers safety is set to miss serious time due to injury for the second time in three seasons as a pro.

Derwin James has struggled to stay healthy for the Chargers

James had an outstanding rookie campaign after being drafted 17th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He started 16 games with three interceptions, 13 pass deflections, 3.5 sacks and 105 tackles. The output launched him onto the NFL All-Rookie team and gave him an early First-Team All-Pro nod.

Naturally, the excitement was high for his NFL future. Unfortunately, disappointment has shrouded the last two seasons.

James’ sophomore season was delayed because of a stress fracture in his foot which was discovered in the offseason. After surgery, he missed three months of play but returned in December to finish out the campaign. He had 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and just one pass deflection in five games.

With a full 2020 offseason ahead of him, James was expected to return to his rookie heights while leading the Charger defense into the coronavirus-adjusted season. Then disaster struck. The safety went down injured during LA’s Sunday scrimmage. Fears quickly spread that he had suffered a meniscus injury.

That’s a familiar injury for James. Before he was an All-American player at Florida State, he missed most of the 2016 season with a torn meniscus.

Now James will have to focus on another long stretch of rehab while the Chargers look to plug the hole left by his absence. They could turn to rookie safety Alohi Gilman, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.