Los Angeles Chargers star safety Derwin James will play the remainder of the 2026 season with a cast after fracturing the pinky finger on his left hand during Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 30-year-old suffered the setback in the first quarter of the Week 2 matchup. He returned in the second quarter wearing a cast and finished the game with seven tackles, including two solo stops.
The fracture is not expected to force James to miss game action, although playing with the cast could make catching the football difficult.
The injury came during a second consecutive home loss for Los Angeles, who fell to 0-2 after also losing to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. The Chargers were favored in both games but failed to secure a win.
James' availability is vital with Los Angeles already dealing with injuries elsewhere in the secondary. Fellow safety Elijah Molden and cornerback Deane Leonard were both unavailable against the Raiders.
James entered the season as a six-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection. He also signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension during the offseason, making him the NFL's highest-paid safety for the second time in his career.
The Chargers now have their backs against the wall after their disastrous start. Five of their next seven games are on the road, six of those matchups are against 2025 playoff teams, and four of their final six games are also away from home.