Chargers Injury Report: Derwin James, Donte Jackson Sit Again Thursday
Two straight DNPs for James and Jackson, while Charlie Kolar logged a second limited session with just 5 PPR points through two games.
Forearm-limited and barely producing — bench him until he's healthy.
- Derwin James: 2nd straight DNP, missed Week 5
- Donte Jackson: hamstring, 2nd DNP in a row
- Kolar: 3 rec, 21 yds, 5 PPR pts in 2 games (2026)
- Brenen Thompson (hamstring) DNP after limited Wed
- Mack, Tomlinson, Taylor trending toward return
The Chargers walked into Thursday with a secondary held together by tape. Safety Derwin James sat out practice for the second consecutive day, an alarming pattern for a player who already missed last week's game and managed only two limited sessions back in Week 4. Add cornerback Donte Jackson — who exited before halftime Sunday with a hamstring injury and logged his own second straight DNP — and L.A.'s defensive backfield is suddenly a question mark heading into the weekend.
The rest of the report mostly mirrored Wednesday's version, with a couple of wrinkles. Khalil Mack returned to full participation after a scheduled veteran's rest day, which is the kind of non-news that actually counts as good news here. On the flip side, rookie wideout Brenen Thompson (hamstring) dropped off the practice field entirely Thursday after getting in a limited look on Wednesday — not the trend you want from a pass-catcher trying to carve out snaps.
Who's Actually Trending Up
Three names are quietly moving in the right direction. Tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm), defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring), and offensive guard Branson Taylor were all limited for the second day in a row. That consistency, even in a reduced role, suggests all three have a real shot to suit up this week — a modest silver lining on a report otherwise stuffed with starters.
For fantasy purposes, though, none of this moves your lineup much. Kolar is the only even marginally relevant name, and the production isn't there: he's got 3 catches for 21 yards and no touchdowns across two games this 2026 season, good for all of 5 PPR points. Our rankings have him at TE59, which is roster-fill territory at best. Thompson, meanwhile, sits unranked with a single reception for 13 yards (2 PPR points) on the year.
The bigger picture matters more for IDP and DST managers. If Derwin James and Donte Jackson are both out again, the Chargers' pass defense gets noticeably softer — something to weigh if you're streaming a quarterback or wideout facing L.A. this week. Watch the Friday designations closely before locking anything in.
Actionable take: keep Kolar on your bench until the forearm clears and the target volume shows up — a limited-practice tight end with 5 PPR points isn't a start anywhere. Thompson stays a watch-list stash at most. And if you roster the Chargers DST, monitor the James and Jackson statuses hard; a depleted secondary could tank their ceiling this weekend.
