Derwin James finally returns, but Chargers say it’s not too late
DENVER — When Derwin James arrived for the 15th of 18 training camp practices in a walking boot, it shocked many in attendance. That August afternoon altered the Chargers’ 2019 season.
After expressing concern for their teammate, Chargers players sounded optimistic about playing without James, who was coming off an All-Pro rookie season. They were gonna be all right, some said. Nothing to worry about. Goals were still the same.
It didn’t work out that way as James prepares to make his regular-season debut Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
James injured his right foot when he intercepted a pass from Drew Brees to close out the first of two joint scrimmages with the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 15.
When James wasn’t stretching with his teammates for the second scrimmage, many at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa had questions. The Chargers answered some with a 32-word injury update that was made public an hour after practice had started.
While James and his walking boot hung out on the rehab field with the other injured players, reporters and fans Googled “stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal.” That’s what James had on his right foot and it sounded bad.
As more reports came out, James was expected to be sidelined three to four months. That timeline gave the Chargers a positive outlook.
On Saturday, James and strong safety Adrian Phillips were moved from injured reserve and placed on the active 53-man roster.
With James and Phillips back on the field, it could give the 4-7 Chargers a much-needed boost, but it might be too late for a playoff push.
The Chargers were optimistic about surviving without James because they had Phillips, the do-it-all safety, to replace him. They has also overcome many injuries last year during a 12-4 season.
Last year, the Chargers had a similar misfortune when star defensive end Joey Bosa missed the first nine games of the season because of a foot injury. The Chargers posted a 7-2 record without Bosa.
James is finally back after 15 weeks, but what the Chargers envisioned before James had foot surgery didn’t transpire. After 11 games without James, the Chargers are three games behind the Kansas City Chiefs for first in the AFC West with five games left on the regular-season schedule.
The Chargers were excited this week to welcome James back, but they dwelled on why he’s coming back to a losing record.
Phillips blamed himself for not being on the field to fill in for James. He played only a game and a half with James sidelined before breaking his forearm in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. He was also placed on injured reserve, a crowded list for the Chargers in the first half of the season.
“It was tough mentally because we were already down Derwin, and then I get hurt Week 2 and felt like I was kinda hanging everybody out to dry,” Phillips said, “like leaving them out there, so it was tough not being there.”
The Chargers’ offense didn’t allow the defense to take the blame. They pointed to their costly red-zone turnovers in the seven one-score losses. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said he needs to play better after recording seven interceptions in the past two games, and running back Austin Ekeler is still beating himself up for goal-line fumbles against the Lions and Broncos in the first meeting.
The blame game doesn’t matter at this point, and technically it’s not too late for a playoff push, with the Chargers sitting two games behind the 6-5 Pittsburgh Steelers for the second wild-card spot.
This is as close to complete of a roster the Chargers have had since they fell to the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs in January.
They were without running back Melvin Gordon for most of the offseason program and until Week 5 against the Broncos because of a lengthy contract holdout.
The Chargers also opened training camp without left tackle Russell Okung because he sustained a pulmonary embolism in June. Okung returned in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, but is dealing with a groin injury. He could be back Sunday after being a full participant at practice to end the week.
The big three of James, Okung and Gordon weren’t on the field for the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, but they will likely reunite in Denver, along with Phillips, tight end Hunter Henry, kicker Michael Badgley and defensive end Melvin Ingram – all players who have missed multiple games this season.
Ekeler is tired of searching for answers for why they’ve come up short in the close losses. Maybe it was the injuries? He doesn’t know, and at this point he doesn’t care anymore about the frustrating losses.
“Maybe it’s psychological, maybe it’s chemistry, like who knows?” Ekeler said. “The goal is just win the damn game at this point, can we please win one game? I want to wear hats on Fridays again.”
When the Chargers win a game, they get to wear hats instead of helmets for the Friday practice of the following week. That’s happened only four times this season.
Having James and Phillips on the field could lead to many hat Fridays in December, but it’s one game at a time for Phillips.
He’s not assuming his and James’ presence will lead to a 5-0 record to close out the regular season.
Win one first – for Ekeler’s sake – and then “let the chips fall where they may,” Phillips said.
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