Chargers defensive back Derwin James hasn’t played since Sept. 27. He won’t play again until at least Nov. 29.
The Chargers announced they placed James on injured reserve on Saturday.
James has missed four games with a hamstring injury, and coach Jim Harbaugh revealed earlier this week that the five-time Pro Bowler had a setback in his rehab.
He has 21 tackles and a pass defensed in three games.
In a corresponding move, the Chargers signed cornerback Isas Waxter to the active roster from the practice squad. They also elevated cornerback Kaiir Elam from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Waxter has two tackles this season, playing 17 defensive snaps and 19 on special teams in two games.
Elam has not played this season but has 43 appearances in his five seasons.
The Rams didn’t rule anyone out on their final injury report of the week, but they’re not sure they’ll have cornerback Trent McDuffie against the Chargers on Sunday.
McDuffie has been listed as questionable because of a groin injury. McDuffie was a limited participant in practice all three days this week.
Center Coleman Shelton (hip) returned for a limited practice on Friday after missing the first two days of the week. He’s also listed as questionable.
Tight end Colby Parkinson (rib) did not practice at all this week, but he has a chance to play after joining McDuffie, Shelton, and wide receiver Jordan Whittington (back) with a questionable tag.
Long snapper Joe Cardona (ankle) is listed as doubtful. The Rams have Jake McQuaide on the practice squad to fill in for him this weekend.
The Chargers will have two of their key receivers for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
First, Ladd McConkey (concussion) is off the injury report and set to play after going through three full practices this week.
McConkey was injured against the Chiefs in Week 6 but has recovered after Los Angeles’ Week 7 bye.
McConkey is second on the team with 13 receptions and 200 receiving yards so far in 2026.
Receiver Tre’ Harris (hamstring) is also off the injury report and set to play. While he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, he was a full participant on Friday.
Safety Derwin James (hamstring), defensive back Deane Leonard (concussion), guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), and receiver Brenen Thompson (quad/hamstring) are all out.
Cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring) and cornerback Rodney Shelley (hamstring) are both questionable.
In five games played since he emerged from a two-year retirement, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has yet to record a sack. During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Donald was asked whether that bothers him.
“No. I didn’t come back for individual stats,” Donald told reporters. “I would love to have some stats, but I’m here to just play the game. When the plays present themselves, take advantage of it, try to get my plays, but my main focus is trying to find ways to help this team win. That’s the goal. I didn’t come back to try to earn individual accolades or anything. I did that, accomplished that. It doesn’t excite me. The only thing that excites me is winning so I’m just playing a football game, trying to do what I can to help this team. As long as we win, I can build off everything else and get myself better off that.”
The Rams have won only three of seven games, and Donald has yet to play with Myles Garrett. Even though it was the trade that brought Garrett to the Rams that lit the fuse to get Donald to return.
Against the Raiders in Week 7, Donald was on the field for 74 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps. It was his highest rate of the season, and the more he’s on the field, the more likely he’ll be to get some of those stats he’d love to have — even if winning continues to be the focus.
The Rams should get their fourth win of the season on Sunday, against the 0-6 Chargers. If they don’t, the Rams will be 3-5 through eight games and dangerously close to having too many losses to play beyond Week 18.
The Chargers’ bye week began with head coach Jim Harbaugh not committing to keeping Mike McDaniel as the offensive play-caller. The Chargers emerged from their Sunday off with Harbaugh reiterating that McDaniel will continue to call plays.
Meeting with reporters on Thursday, McDaniel was asked about Harbaugh’s initial unwillingness to state that McDaniel will keep doing that specific job.
“It kind of fits my expectation for what occurs,” McDaniel said. “Like, listen, you have a team game. Everyone has their rules, and somebody has to be responsible for the overall output. And when you’re 0-6, quite frankly, all people interested in the Chargers really want the results to be different. So you — it’s very natural. I don’t have any other expectation, you know, just because of the obvious.
“You’re new on the team, and the team’s not doing as well as they’ve done in the past. So that’s part of the part of, you know — you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. An incredibly fun job, a ton of responsibility, and in this league, you have to produce results or there’s gonna be heat. So I don’t expect anything else.
“What I spend my time on, instead of thinking about what’s being said, I think my time is best used to focus on the opponent, focus on us, and find ways that we can improve and nothing else. So I really don’t have any — everything’s an opportunity cost. If I’m spending time worried about things that I would assume would occur, that is an absolute waste of time. So, I try to stay out of that way.”
It’s obvious that, with the losses piling up, the pressure remains. For whatever reason, Harbaugh has decided to retain the status quo. Obviously, things need to improve. Starting on Sunday against the Rams.
