The Los Angeles Chargers were dealt a crucial blow recently after safety Derwin James suffered a severe foot injury. It appears they have now decided on a course for treatment.

The Chargers made it clear that they would be exploring all options upon determining his injury. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, James will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the next 3-4 months:

Chargers S Derwin James is scheduled to undergo foot surgery in North Carolina on Thursday, per source. A screw that James had inserted in his foot as a freshman at Florida State bent last week and doctors determined it’s best to remove it. James is expected back in 3-4 months.

James' timetable for a return falls in line with the initial report of three months. If there is a silver lining, it is that the surgery will allow doctors to clean up an issue that he had suffered in college.

Otherwise, his extended absence will leave a notable void in the Chargers' defense for a solid portion of the 2019 NFL season.

James had established himself as one of the most promising defensive players in the league after being taken with the 17th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He finished the 2018 campaign with a team-high 105 tackles along with 3.5 sacks and three interceptions to earn first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie.

While attempting to replace James will certainly be no easy task for the chargers, they will need to find a way if they hope to meet their high expectations for this season.