UPDATE, 8/31/2020 8:40 PM: Derwin James will reportedly miss the entire 2020 NFL season, as his meniscus injury requires surgery. ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that the surgery James requires has a recovery time of 6-8 months.
Derwin James needs knee surgery and will be out 6 – 8 months, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2020
Original Story: Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is reportedly set to miss significant time with a meniscus trim. As reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, James sustained the injury in practice on Sunday and is set to miss from a few weeks to possibly months.
#Chargers star safety Derwin James is likely to miss significant time with a meniscus injury he suffered during today’s practice, I’m told. James was expected to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and will now have to wait and see when he will be back on the field.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2020
The options for Derwin James, pending further medical evaluation: A meniscus trim, which can be 4 or so weeks. Or a full repair, which can be several months. https://t.co/IMdbjeWl1I
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2020
James was drafted by the Chargers with the seventeenth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State University, and in his first season in the league was named both a Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro.
Last season, James was severely hindered in his playing time due to a stress fracture in his right foot, limiting him to only five appearances in the Chargers’ disappointing 5-11 campaign.
The loss of James for any amount of time will weaken the Chargers’ defense, which has been overhauled during this offseason period. Since the end of last season, the Chargers have signed Chris Harris from the Denver Broncos as well as Linval Joseph. L. A. also traded up in this year’s draft to select standout linebacker Kenneth Murray out of the University of Oklahoma.
