On Wednesday, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), the league’s player labor union, rolled out its first-ever Players’ All-Pro team, which is unique as it is voted on by players and players only.
Only one member of the Los Angeles Chargers got a spot on that team, and it was their star safety, Derwin James.
It was another banner year for him, as he put together 115 tackles (65 solo), five tackles for loss, six passes defended and two interceptions.
James was selected to his third Pro Bowl this season, and the only two seasons in which he didn’t receive that honor were 2019 and 2020 when he was dealing with a stress fracture in his right foot and a torn meniscus, respectively.
The Chargers have struggled all season on defense, as they finished 18th in passing touchdowns allowed, 20th in total yards allowed and 21st in points allowed.
One reason for those struggles has been the injuries to cornerback J.C. Jackson, whom they signed as a free agent in the spring and was supposed to be one of the final pieces to a championship puzzle.
But James has helped keep L.A. afloat just enough on that side of the ball.
In four of the last five games of the season, they gave up less than 300 total yards, leading to a four-game winning streak that ended in Week 18 with a meaningless 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos.
James will need to be on his game on Saturday when the Chargers face ascendant wide receiver Christian Kirk and the hot Jacksonville Jaguars.
More must-reads: