Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers

Derwin James Jr. isn’t just a standout player for the Los Angeles Chargers—he’s a defensive Swiss Army knife whose versatility redefines what a safety can do in the NFL. At 6’2” and 215 pounds, James combines the speed of a defensive back, the strength of a linebacker, and the football IQ of a playcaller, allowing him to line up at nearly every defensive position on any given down. Whether he’s covering a slot receiver, blitzing the quarterback, stopping a run at the line of scrimmage, or reading a quarterback’s eyes to intercept a pass, James’ ability to adapt makes him one of the most disruptive defenders in the league. Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers explores how this flexibility shapes the Chargers’ defense, confuses opponents, and solidifies James as a franchise cornerstone.

Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers starts with his primary role as a “do-it-all” safety—a position where he blends coverage skills with run-stopping intensity. In the Chargers’ “Cover 3” scheme, James often lines up deep as a free safety, using his speed to cover wide receivers on deep routes and his awareness to read quarterbacks’ intentions. But unlike traditional safeties, he’s just as comfortable moving up to the box (the area near the line of scrimmage) to stop runs. In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, James showcased this duality: on one play, he dropped back to cover Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on a deep fade route, breaking up a potential touchdown pass; on the next play, he shifted to the box, tackled running back Joe Mixon for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-1 run. “Derwin’s ability to switch between deep coverage and run support in seconds is rare,” said Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill. “Quarterbacks and running backs never know where he’ll be, and that uncertainty works to our advantage.” Through 12 weeks, James has recorded 65 solo tackles (tied for 5th among NFL safeties) and 8 pass breakups, proving his impact in both phases.

Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers focuses on his role as a “hybrid linebacker”—a position the Chargers created specifically to leverage his strength and tackling ability. In short-yardage situations or against teams with powerful rushing attacks, James lines up alongside the Chargers’ linebackers, using his size to plug gaps and his speed to pursue ball carriers from the side. Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5, a team known for its run-heavy offense, James played 40% of his snaps as a hybrid linebacker. On one critical fourth-and-1 play, he lined up over the Browns’ right guard, read the play instantly, and tackled running back Nick Chubb for no gain, ending the Browns’ scoring threat. Later in the game, he blitzed from the linebacker spot, sacking quarterback Deshaun Watson for a 7-yard loss. “When we put Derwin at linebacker, we’re essentially adding a defensive back’s speed to a linebacker’s physicality,” Hill explained. “Offensive lines can’t block him—he’s too fast for guards and too strong for running backs assigned to pick him up.” James’ hybrid role has been so effective that the Chargers now use it in 25% of their defensive snaps, up from 10% last season.

Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers delves into his ability to rush the edge—a skill that adds another layer to the Los Angeles Chargers’ pass-rushing attack. While Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree are the Chargers’ primary edge rushers, James often lines up as a “stand-up rusher” (a defensive end who doesn’t put his hand on the ground) in passing situations, using his speed to beat offensive tackles off the line. In Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, James rushed the edge on 15 snaps, recording 2 quarterback hits and 1 sack. His sack came on a third-and-10 play: James lined up as a stand-up rusher on the right side, faked a inside move to confuse the Vikings’ tackle, then burst around the edge to tackle quarterback Kirk Cousins before he could release the ball. “Derwin’s edge-rushing ability is a secret weapon,” said Mack, who often works with James on pass-rushing moves in practice. “He doesn’t look like a traditional rusher, so tackles underestimate his speed—until it’s too late.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, James’ edge-rushing snaps keep opponents off-balance: if they focus on blocking Mack and Dupree, James can exploit the one-on-one matchup with a tackle, and if they shift a blocker to James, it opens up opportunities for the other rushers.

Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers explores his role in covering tight ends and slot receivers—a task usually assigned to cornerbacks or linebackers, but one James excels at due to his size and speed. Against teams with elite tight ends (like the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce or the Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews), the Chargers often assign James to shadow the player, using his strength to match their physicality and his speed to keep up with them in coverage. In Week 13 against the Chiefs, James covered Kelce for 35 snaps, limiting him to 4 catches for 38 yards (well below Kelce’s season average of 85 yards per game). On one key play, James stayed with Kelce on a crossing route, used his hands to disrupt the catch, and forced an incomplete pass on third down. “Covering tight ends is all about balance—you need to be strong enough to push them off their route but fast enough to stay with them if they run deep,” James said in a post-game interview. “It’s a challenge, but I love it.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, James’ ability to cover tight ends and slots allows the team to use other cornerbacks to cover wide receivers, creating a more balanced and effective secondary.

Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers concludes with how his flexibility shapes the Chargers’ defense and cements his legacy as one of the most versatile defenders in NFL history. James’ ability to play multiple positions allows the Chargers to run more complex defensive schemes without sacrificing talent—they can switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, or from a Cover 2 to a Cover 3, without substituting players, keeping opponents guessing. His versatility also makes him a leader on the field: younger players like rookie safety Ja’Sir Taylor often watch James to learn how to adapt to different positions, and coaches rely on him to make in-game adjustments if a play isn’t working. “Derwin doesn’t just play multiple positions—he masters them,” said Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. “He’s the heart of our defense, and his versatility is what makes us dangerous.” As the Chargers push for a playoff spot, James’ role will only grow more important: he’ll be asked to cover, rush, tackle, and lead—all in the same game. In the end, Derwin James Jr.'s Versatility for the Los Angeles Chargers is a story of excellence without limits—of a player who refuses to be boxed into one position, and in doing so, makes everyone around him better.