Chargers Safety Derwin James Hurt Again

By Jeff Miller- LA Times
For the second consecutive training camp, the Chargers watched Derwin James hobble off the field with a member of the team’s medical staff.
The standout safety suffered a reported meniscus injury to his right knee Sunday in the second half of a scrimmage in Costa Mesa and did not return. The NFL Network reported that James is “likely to miss significant time.”
He was scheduled to undergo further testing in an attempt to determine the severity.
Last August, James was hurt on the same field in a joint practice with the Saints.
He suffered a foot injury on that occasion and ended up needing surgery. James missed 11games before returning in early December, by which time the Chargers had lost seven times en route to a 5-11 finish.
After remaining down briefly Sunday, he limped to the sideline before heading to the medical tent. James tossed his gloves aside in frustration before disappearing from view.
Rookie Alohi Gilman, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame in April, has been backing up James in practice. Nasir Adderley, a second-round selection in 2019, is No. 2 behind Rayshawn Jenkins at free safety. Adderley missed most of last season because of a hamstring problem.
Desmond King started at the position the game before James returned last year. King has been playing mostly nickel in practice but has trained at safety in the past.
The Chargers have depth in the secondary but no one who can provide the consistent playmaking of James. Any long-term loss would be a tough blow for a defense that was forecast to be among the AFC’s best.
Veteran safety and seven-time Pro Bowl player Earl Thomas is available after being released last week by Baltimore. A longtime Seattle Seahawk, Thomas would be familiar with the Chargers’ scheme.
He was let go abruptly after an on-field altercation with Ravens safety Chuck Clark. Baltimore announced it was terminating his contract, making Thomas a free agent.
As a rookie in 2018, James started all 16 games and finished with a team-high 109 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and three interceptions. James started in the Pro Bowl and was named an All-Pro.
The Chargers already are dealing with the loss of one of their top playmakers on offense, wide receiver Mike Williams, whose status for the start of the season is in doubt because of a shoulder injury.
They originally were scheduled to scrimmage Thursday at SoFi Stadium. But coach Anthony Lynn canceled that practice after an emotional team meeting regarding the recent shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
The Chargers returned to the field at Jack Hammett Sports Complex on Sunday morning and scrimmaged for about 75minutes. The practice marked the final official day of training camp.
Other players who were attended to by medical personnel during the workout included right guard Trai Turner, running back Justin Jackson and wide receiver Darius Jennings.
Notable
Disgruntled pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue is headed north, far away from Jacksonville. A person familiar with the trade says the Jaguars agreed to send Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings for a second-round draft pick in 2021 and a conditional fifth-rounder in 2022. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The person said Ngakoue agreed to rework his 2020 salary to get out of Jacksonville. Ngakoue still has to sign his one-year franchise tender with the Jaguars to make the deal happen. He had been the league’s only franchise-tagged player unsigned, opting to turn down an offer that would have guaranteed him $17.8 million this season. He will now make roughly $13 million in 2020, the person said.
The Jets’ once seemingly deep running back group is suddenly a bit short-handed. Rookie fourth-rounder La’Mical Perine injured his left ankle during the team’s practice. New York acquired Kalen Ballage from Miami on Thursday, but the running back failed his physical and reverted back to the Dolphins — voiding the trade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Miller writes for the L.A. Times.