Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is set to make his 2019 season debut for the AFC West franchise, as the second-year defensive back is “likely to play” in his team's Week 13 divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
James, 23, returned from the injured reserve (IR) list on Monday, practicing on the field for the first time this season after suffering from a stress fracture in his right foot discovered during training camp last August. The first-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft was an All-Pro and Pro-Bowl selection in his first season last year. James would be a huge boost to the Chargers' secondary as the Florida State product gets re-acquainted to L.A.'s defense.
James commented on his recovery last week, telling NFL Network's Lindsay Rhodes he was “feeling better.”
“I’m feeling well, feeling better, getting better every day,” James told NFL Network’s Lindsay Rhodes on Tuesday’s edition of NFL Total Access. “Just taking it day-by-day. It’s real close, real soon. I can say that. So just taking it day-by-day. Working hard to get back out there.”
James, a 6-foot-2 safety who required surgery on his stress fracture three months ago, recorded three interceptions in his debut season in 2019, along with 3.5 sacks and 105 combined tackles—impressive numbers for any defensive back worth their salt, regardless of NFL tenure.
The Chargers are coming off back-to-back losses to AFC West division rival Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs and have a third straight divisional battle in Week 13, this time against the Denver Broncos. James has been sorely missed, with the Chargers toward the bottom of the league in takeaways.
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