Los Angeles Chargers star safety Derwin James was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot Friday, and the prognosis for his return any time soon doesn’t seem positive.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that “Derwin James will be out a significant amount of time, but how much is still undetermined, as of now.”
A “significant amount of time” sure makes it sound like James won’t be available for the Chargers at the start of the 2019 campaign.
That’s going to be rough, because James showed as a rookie that he’s already one of the NFL’s top safeties. Last year, he earned First-Team All-Pro honors, made the Pro Bowl and racked up 105 tackles, three interceptions and 3.5 sacks.
With James out of action, it appears that veteran Adrian Phillips, who started in place of James during Friday’s practice, will take over until the second-year star is healthy enough to play once more.