Chargers safety Derwin James suffered a meniscus injury during practice on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bolts are awaiting word on his tests, but they’re expecting to be without James for a significant period of time. 
James’ timetable will largely depend on the severity of the tear and his personal choice on how to address it. A meniscus trim would sideline James for approximately one month. A full repair of the meniscus would take several months to heal and likely rule him out for the year.
Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for the promising young safety. Last August, James suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. That injury kept him off the field until November, limiting him to just five games in 2019. That was hardly the encore James expected. As a rookie in 2018, the No. 17 overall pick posted three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, and 3.5 sacks. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded James as the league’s seventh-best safety and he also garnered a first-team All-Pro nod.
If James opts for a full repair, it’s possible that the Chargers could consider free agent Earl Thomas. Thomas played for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in Seattle, and Bradley sees some similarities between the two players.
“Normally, I don’t like to compare guys, but he’s unique because he has the speed of a corner. He has the athleticism to make plays in space. He can play in the box. He’s a good rusher. I see some of those traits in [James],” Bradley says of James last December (via Sports Illustrated). “I see a guy that can cover a lot of field like Earl Thomas, can cover a lot of ground. So, I see bits and pieces of that.”
Sounds like Logan Ryan found a new home.
Chargers sign him before Thomas. Don’t need the headache.
Too true. Once James returns, he could take over on the outside and push Harris/King to a more ideal role as a nickelback