Chargers star safety James could miss three months
Los Angeles Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James will have surgery on his right foot this week and could miss three months.
Coach Anthony Lynn said Sunday after Los Angeles’ 19-17 exhibition loss to New Orleans that James has opted for surgery after receiving more evaluations the past couple days. He suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during Thursday’s practice against the Saints.
James would likely be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he could not be activated until after Week 8. If he is out the full three months, he would likely not be back until the final five games of the season.
This will be the second straight year the Chargers will go into the season without one of their top players on defense. Defensive end Joey Bosa missed the first nine games last season due to turf toe.
James quickly made an impact as a rookie last season. The 17th-overall pick led the team in tackles with 105 along with four interceptions, 3.5 sacks and 13 passes defensed. He had two sacks and an interception in the first three games, becoming the first rookie in a non-strike year since Dallas’ Bill Bates in 1983 to accomplish that.
Adrian Phillips will take over at free safety while James is sidelined.
The Chargers are considered one of the AFC West favorites but haven’t had a smooth training camp. Running back Melvin Gordon is holding out, left tackle Russell Okung is out due to blood clots, and wide receiver Keenan Allen is dealing with an ankle injury. GIANTS WR TATE CONCUSSED >> New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate III has been placed in concussion protocol.
Tate sustained the concussion Friday night in the Giants’ 32-13 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears. It was not known Sunday how long the 10-year veteran will be kept out of practice.
It was not a great week for the 30-year-old Tate, who learned earlier in the week that his appeal of a four-game suspension to start the season was upheld by the NFL office. Tate insisted that his failed drug test was due to him taking the fertility drug clomiphene.
BEARS CHOOSE KICKER >> The Chicago Bears’ kicking competition is over, with Eddy Pineiro the winner.
The Bears announced that Elliott Fry has been released after an offseason and preseason competition with Pineiro and others.
The Bears have been looking for a kicker since cutting Cody Parkey following his field goal miss of 43 yards in their 16-15 playoff loss to Philadelphia.
Pineiro, who kicked in college at Florida, was acquired from the Raiders during the offseason. He was on injured reserve last season in Oakland.
Fry had been signed after the Alliance of American Football folded. He kicked for Orlando and in college had kicked at South Carolina.
The Bears still have two preseason games remaining and coach Matt Nagy said it’s still possible they’d sign another kicker if one of interest is released by another team. BELL WILL TOLL IN REGULAR SEASON >> Le’Veon Bell’s debut with the New York Jets will not come until the regular season after Adam Gase announced the star running back will be held out of the final two preseason games.
Gase said he was leaning toward that decision, but a season-ending knee injury to linebacker Avery Williamson in the Jets’ preseason loss at Atlanta on Thursday night sealed it.
Bell has looked good in training camp after sitting out all last season in a contract dispute with Pittsburgh. Gase and the Jets don’t want to take any unnecessary risks with Bell, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract and will be a major part of the offense.
Gase adds that he’s happy with where Bell is at physically and is confident the running back will be ready for the season opener against Buffalo on Sept. 8. EX-NFL RB BENSON DIES IN CRASH >> Former running back Cedric Benson, one of the most prolific rushers in NCAA and University of Texas history, died in a motorcycle accident in Texas. He was 36.
The Doak Walker Award winner in 2004 was drafted No. 4 overall by the Bears in 2005. He also played for the Bengals and Packers.