COSTA MESA, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers followers on Wednesday lastly received to see what they'd been hoping for 3 weeks into coaching camp — a smiling Derwin James working out to the sphere in his powder blue follow jersey, helmets and shoulder pads.
James took half in his first follow after signing a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension, making him the NFL’s highest-paid security.
“This wasn’t like each different massive contract that will get signed, as a result of what he needed to undergo with a purpose to make it thus far in his profession,” coach Brandon Staley mentioned. “He overcame loads to earn this contract, and he earned each cent of it. He was a giant, massive chief for us immediately on the market.”
The deal consists of $42 million in assured wage. James didn't take part within the first three weeks of follow and took half solely in walkthroughs as the 2 sides labored on an extension.
“I’m feeling superb,” mentioned James after the Chargers accomplished the primary day of joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys. There was by no means a doubt in my thoughts (the deal would get executed). I simply tried to do what I might as a participant to return out right here day by day and get higher within the ways in which I might.”
James’ deal eclipses the four-year, $72.98 million extension Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick signed in June. That included $36 million in assured wage.
James took half in particular person drills however not one of the 7-on-7 or full-team drills towards the Cowboys. Staley mentioned James wouldn’t participate in crew work till subsequent week.
The Chargers have spent practically $112 million in assured salaries for the reason that finish of final season to enhance a protection that was twenty third general and close to the underside in key classes, together with run protection, third down conversions and factors allowed after halftime.
James — the defensive signal-caller within the huddle — can be counted on because the chief of a unit that made important upgrades over the offseason. Los Angeles signed cornerback J.C. Jackson, defensive linemen Sebastian Jones-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox and edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, together with buying and selling for linebacker Khalil Mack.
Staley on Tuesday harassed the significance of James, saying he's greater than a security and is an entire defensive again. Staley additionally referred to as James “the heartbeat of our protection.”
James mentioned he took these feedback to coronary heart.
“That’s a privilege to me for individuals to have the ability to consider you want that. I really feel like that carries a whole lot of weight and simply must maintain getting higher and never be happy with it. Don’t get smug, simply maintain working and staying humble,” James mentioned.
James — the seventeenth general decide within the 2018 draft — didn’t take part in full-speed drills through the offseason program after having shoulder surgical procedure as soon as final season ended. He's cleared to go now that the contract points are resolved.
James was an All-Professional choice as a rookie earlier than being derailed the following two seasons due to accidents throughout coaching camp. A damaged foot restricted him to 5 video games in 2019, and he suffered a season-ending knee harm in 2020.
Final season James bounced again and reclaimed his spot as one of many high safeties within the league. He was the eighth defensive participant and first defensive again since 2000 to have greater than 100 tackles (118) after being sidelined the earlier yr.
James additionally had two interceptions, a pair of sacks and three compelled fumbles. He wore No. 33 his first 4 seasons earlier than switching to No. 3, which he wore throughout highschool and faculty.
The practically two-hour follow between the Cowboys and Chargers was even-keeled, with none scuffles.
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons mentioned he was happy with the session.
“I believe immediately, we got here out and actually competed laborious, particularly made massive strides from final week. … And I simply felt just like the power was there, and that’s form of like the usual we have to play with each sport this yr,” he mentioned.
Chargers working again Austin Ekeler mentioned it was good to return out towards one other crew and see different seems.
“There’s a whole lot of studying. We didn’t know what they had been going to return out in and so they confirmed us some seems immediately, defensively, that we weren’t actually ready for. We had been form of figuring it out on the fly,” he mentioned.
“That’s the place you actually see the true worth in your crew and how one can really react and play beneath stress and beneath occasions the place it’s not going your approach and issues aren’t possibly as deliberate out.”
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