Los Angeles Chargers 53-man roster: Decisions that remain unclear

Who will be the team’s safeties?

Following the NFL draft, Chargers fans were dreaming when thinking of Derwin James lining up in the defensive backfield with second-round pick Nasir Adderley. That dream is going to have to wait until later this season, at the very least.

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James will go on injured reserve with a foot injury and Adderley has been hobbled as well. So where does that leave the team at the safety position? Will it open the door for players who wouldn’t have made the team otherwise? Most likely.

As of this moment, the starting safeties would likely be Adrian Phillips and Rayshawn Jenkins. However, Jaylen Watkins and undrafted free agent Adarius Pickett have a solid chance to be on the roster as well, at least until one or both of the team’s perceived starting safeties are healthy.

The Chargers could also scour the waiver wire as teams make their final cuts, looking for more help at safety. Truth be told, James can’t be replaced by one guy. It will take a collective effort.

It’s easy to put on the proverbial brave face and say that the injury to James is no big deal, but that wouldn’t be true. There aren’t many players on the entire roster who the team can afford to lose less and it will be no easy task coming up with a good way to replace him.