Safety Derwin James has been with the Chargers since entering the NFL in 2018 and the team would like to see him continue to wear their uniform through the end of his playing days.
James is moving into the final year of his current contract and General Manager Joe Hortiz said last month that he anticipated an acceleration of talks about a new deal after the draft. It’s almost June now and Hortiz said on Up & Adams that getting something done remains at the top of his list of priorities.
“It’s high, it’s high,” Hortiz said. “I’ve told the story, in Baltimore we had Derwin up there as the number one player on our board in that draft, you know, the No. 1 player available when we were picking. And we took a trade back and he got picked. I said to him when I first met him, I’m like, ‘Gosh, you should’ve been a Raven. We traded away from you, but I’m glad you’re not because I’m here now.’ He’s such a special, special leader and person. Like Justin [Herbert], the talent is real and it’s there, but the leader and motivator and energy he gives to everybody within the organization, throughout the entire building, it’s so unique. One of the best I’ve ever been around in terms of leadership, talent and character.”
James has been both productive and durable over recent seasons and he’ll get a chance to continue to do both for the Chargers as long as all goes well at the negotiating table.
The Chargers have announced a handful of promotions on their coaching staff.
On the offensive side of the ball, Shane Day will be the offensive passing game coordinator along with his previous title of quarterbacks coach while Josh Hammond is now an assistant wide receivers and special teams coach.
Defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale will be the defensive passing game coordinator and defensive line coach Mike Elston will be the defensive run game coordinator. Mike Hiestand will have the title of defensive run game specialist.
The Chargers also announced that Jarrod James, Jimmy Thompson and Beau Snuggs have been named the team’s Alex G. Spanos Coaching Fellows for the 2026 season.
Wide receiver Keenan Allen’s return to the Chargers may not wind up being one year and done.
Allen spent 11 seasons with the Chargers and then returned to the team on a one-year deal in 2025 after spending a season with the Bears. Allen had 81 catches for 777 yards and four touchdowns to help the Chargers make the playoffs, but has not landed a job for the coming season yet.
That job could wind up being back in Los Angeles. Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said on Up & Adams that he’s remained in contact with Allen and that the team is open to a possible return.
“Right now we’re in a spot where we’re looking at the roster and we’re letting these young guys get a chance,” Hortiz said. “I’ve had some communications with Keenan’s representation and we talk. Right now, the guys that we have here, we’re letting them grow and develop. Nothing but love for Keenan and that door is not closed.”
Fourth-round pick Brenen Thompson was the only notable offseason addition to the receiving corps this offseason. Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Tre’ Harris, Derius Davis, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith all return after having been drafted in the last four years.
Tight end David Njoku spent an extended time on the open market as a free agent before signing a one-year deal with the Chargers earlier this month.
Njoku said on Tuesday that he “could’ve signed before the draft in other places,” but had his eye on the Chargers as a preferred destination because he believed it would be a “perfect fit” for his skills. He noted the presence of head coach Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert as some of the leading reasons for that belief.
While he hasn’t spent much time with his new team, it has been enough to reinforce Njoku’s feeling that he is in the right spot.
“I feel like we can be destructive,” Njoku said, via the team’s website. “We got the tools, we got the keys, we got the players to do it all. It’s up to us to put it all together.”
Putting it all together has been an issue for the Chargers in the Herbert era as they have lost all three of their playoff appearances as a road team in the wild card round. The additions of McDaniel and Njoku are big parts of this year’s bid to author a happier ending.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is not attending Tuesday’s voluntary workout, according to multiple reports.
He also did not attend last week’s Phase 2 practice open to the media, Kris Rhim of ESPN reports.
The media has access to one of the three practices per week in this phase.
Backup quarterbacks Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei are taking the reps in place of Herbert. The Chargers have only three quarterbacks on their roster.
Herbert, 28, made his second Pro Bowl last season after completing 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 16 games.
