While Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is eligible to return from injured reserve this week, he is not yet ready to practice and doesn’t appear close to a return.
“He’s doing just fine,” head coach Anthony Lynn told reporters Wednesday. “I think he’s right on schedule. I don’t like to put a timetable on players’ injuries, but he’s working hard. When he’s ready, trust me, he’ll be back on the field. But that may be some time.”
James had surgery to address a stress fracture in his right foot on Aug. 22 and was given a timetable of about three months. He was placed on injured reserve before Week 1, ruling him out at least eight weeks.
Earlier Wednesday, TMZ Sports posted a video of James being asked about his recovery and whether he’ll return this season, with James repeatedly saying, “We’ll see.”
The Chargers are 3-5 and two games out of the second AFC wild-card spot, with three games remaining before their Week 12 bye: vs. Green Bay, at Oakland and vs. Kansas City in Mexico City. They begin the final five games of the season Dec. 1 at Denver.
The 23-year-old James was the Chargers’ first-round pick (17th overall) last April. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and was the first rookie in franchise history to eclipse 100 tackles.
James’ injury was the result of a broken screw from a previous surgery he had while at Florida State.