On Thursday, the Los Angeles Chargers returned to the win column with a dominant victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Jim Harbaugh’s squad saw the return of starting left tackle Joe Alt, who has been sorely missed in helping keep quarterback Justin Herbert on his feet. Just when it seemed like the Bolts were finally getting closer to full strength, the injury bug struck again.

Two of the Chargers’ most important members of their defensive backfield went down and did not return on Thursday. Pro Bowl safety Derwin James left with a low ankle sprain, while starting cornerback Tarheeb Still suffered an MCL sprain. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the hope is that James’ injury is not serious. However, things aren’t quite as optimistic according to Pelissero regarding Still’s MCL sprain—his recovery time is estimated to be 2–4 weeks. Although the Chargers have yet to officially put a timeline on Tarheeb’s injury, it is apparent that the coaching staff will avoid rushing him back and risking further injury. 

With the mini-bye week following their Thursday Night Football appearance, there’s a possibility that Derwin James could be ready to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The fact that it’s a low ankle sprain—rather than the dreaded high ankle sprain the Chargers have seen multiple times already this season—allows fans to breathe a sigh of relief. With an already disappointing defense this season, the Chargers cannot afford to lose one of their defensive captains for multiple weeks.

But even if Derwin James is ready for Sunday, should defensive coordinator Jesse Minter even consider playing him? The Tennessee Titans are arguably the worst team in football right now. Their offense has been abysmal, despite drafting this year’s number one overall pick, Cam Ward. It’s reasonable to believe the Chargers should be able to take care of business with or without James. If the star safety is experiencing even the slightest pain, the coaching staff would be wise to sit him out as a precaution—allowing him an extra week to get fully healthy heading into the second half of the season.

Chargers fans will want to keep an eye on the injury report throughout the week. If Derwin James is able to log any practice time, that could be a good indication his ankle is responding well to rest and treatment. Regardless of the opponent, James will likely do everything in his power to be available to play. Coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter will need to be cautious heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans.