Chargers CB Tarheeb Still had a great game against the Vikings on Thursday Night Football. The whole secondary balled out against Carson Wentz and flustered Minnesota's offense in a dominant win. Unfortunately, it appears that the Chargers will be without one of their top cornerbacks on the roster for a few weeks.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Still is projected to miss the next 2-4 weeks with an MCL sprain he suffered on Thursday. Pelissero also reported that S Derwin James' injury that he left the game with was a low ankle sprain. James was seen in a walking boot on the sideline in the second half.
The injuries could be worse, but the Chargers' secondary will be tested without Derwin James and Tarheeb Still.
James and Still are the team's top slot defenders. Without them, Ja'Sir Taylor, Nikko Reed, and perhaps a currently unsigned safety would get more into the mix. The Chargers worked out players at safety specifically in the secondary in the aftermath of the injuries in the Vikings win. The group included former 2024 LA safety Marcus Maye.
Tony Jefferson left the game on Thursday and then came back in after suffering an injury. S Elijah Molden had a screw inserted in his hand as he's had to deal with a lingering injury for a few weeks now.
Luckily, the Chargers catch a little bit of a break next week as they face off against the 31st ranked passing offense in the Titans. For what it's worth, Los Angeles will also have a bit of a rest advantage after playing on TNF.
LA can likely get by the Titans without the services of James or Still. But not having both for a primetime matchup against Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers the next week would be difficult to deal with.
Hopefully, Pelissero is right about a shorter injury timeline for James once he gets more imaging on the ankle done. But the Chargers are still facing the possibility of the next month without Still in a very competitive AFC West division (and wild card) hunt.