Chargers News: Analytics Show Deep Impact of Derwin James Injury

2-4 seems increasingly likely.

While he's had a bit of a down year for your Bolts, Derwin James Jr. remains an anchor of the Chargers defense. 

Unfortunately, Derwin suffered an ankle injury at some point during the week (timeline unknown), and has since been limited in practice

This injury would be an issue irrespective of the Chargers' matchup but is about to be insurmountably worse given that the Bolts are slated to visit Arrowhead this weekend to take on the division-rival Chiefs. 

The Chiefs offense runs through tight end Travis Kelce, who has been a thorn in the Chargers' side for years. 

Since 2018 (Mahomes era), Kelce has put up 55 catches for 734 yards and 7 touchdowns in just 9 games, for an average of 80 yards per game and nearly a touchdown. 

While these stats are impressive, to begin with, they would probably be jaw-dropping if not for Derwin James. 

As Popper explains using yards per route run as a metric, Kelce is essentially 3 times less effective with James on the field than with him off the field. 

Yards per route run breaks down how many yards a player receives across a game, and then divides that figure based on the amount of routes they run during the contest. 

To be three times less effective with James on the field is significant, and without Derwin, the Chargers defense may be helpless this weekend. 

There's a chance he plays, but it's never a good sign when a player seemingly gets hurt out of nowhere during the week and then has trouble practicing less than 48 hours before game time.

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Martand Bhagavatula
MARTAND BHAGAVATULA

Martand is currently a student at the University of Southern California, and has prior experience in the NIL space, sports financial advisory, and publishing in sports analytics. As a Lakers, Chargers, and Angels fan, he often finds himself disappointed.