Earl Thomas might be aware that the Los Angeles Chargers have to deal with a major setback before the season even started. Superstar safety Derwin James suffered a meniscus injury during practice on Sunday. And that injury is going to keep him out for at least a couple of weeks.
Those “couple of weeks” are a best case scenario too. James could easily end up missing a few months due to this injury.
Obviously, losing a defensive back of James' caliber is going to hurt any team. This is devastating for the Chargers.
This is a team that just two years ago went 12-4 and found themselves within striking distance of the Super Bowl. However, 2019 saw a major step backwards.
Los Angeles went 5-11 last season, good enough for last place in the AFC West. Very far from the playoffs – especially the Super Bowl.
And if they want to get back to their winning ways, they need all hands on deck. It was not going to be easy, but they certainly had potential this year. Losing James makes that uphill battle even more steep.
However, there is an option that Ian Rapoport of NFL Network considered on Twitter. There is a road that the Chargers can go down that could put them back on the right track.
The #Chargers play the same system as the #Seahawks with DC Gus Bradley. Earl Thomas is still a free agent. Would be an intriguing option for LAC if they felt compelled to go with a veteran replacement for Derwin James.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2020
It's almost impossible to replace James, but signing veteran star safety Earl Thomas is certainly a step in that direction for the Chargers.
In fact, it's the best move the Chargers could make right now.
Thomas is not the same player he was a few years ago. He faces some legitimate concerns following the altercation with a teammate that saw Thomas get cut from the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason.
However, Thomas is still a star. He's still someone that can give a defense — the Chargers' defense — a good amount of everything.
Last season saw the defensive back rack up just 49 tackles, the least he ever had in a season with at least 12 games played. Meanwhile, he had two interceptions – the second worst of his career. Thomas set a new career-worst in pass deflections, with just four.
However, the safety still made a difference on the Baltimore defense. He added something new to his game, getting his first two career sacks in 2019. The Chargers can take note of that.
Ultimately, this is not about the numbers. Even when Thomas is not his usual self, he's still going to contribute in that area. This is about how well Thomas would fit in the defense. He will be able to fill the shoes of James to a degree on the Chargers. He would bring winning pedigree to the team as well.
Most importantly, Thomas is familiar with the Chargers' defensive scheme. It is similar to the Seattle Seahawks; his years there were his best years in the NFL.
The Chargers are now desperate for a safety, and Thomas is still looking for a home. This would be beneficial for both sides. It gives Thomas a chance to get his career back on track, and it gives Los Angeles a star safety that can keep their playoff aspirations alive for now.
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