Los Angeles Chargers place Derwin James Jr. on injured reserve
On Oct. 31, 2026, the Los Angeles Chargers placed safety Derwin James Jr. on injured reserve. The Chargers signed cornerback Isas Waxter to the active roster and elevated cornerback Kaiir Elam from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Chargers Communications announced the moves in a team release.
Waxter (first name pronounced eye-SAHS) spent the 2025 season on the Chargers’ practice squad after initially signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent. He has appeared in two games this season for Los Angeles as a standard elevation. Waxter played 46 collegiate games over five seasons (2019-24) at Villanova, compiling 108 tackles (75 solo), three interceptions and 19 passes defensed. He earned second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors in 2023.
Elam (first name pronounced kai-EER) is a four-year NFL veteran who has started 19 of 43 career regular-season games with Buffalo, Dallas and Tennessee. He entered the NFL as the 23rd overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and has totaled 111 tackles (77 solo), two interceptions, eight pass breakups, four tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries in his career. Elam has appeared in five postseason games, posting 14 tackles (eight solo), two interceptions and three pass breakups. He played three seasons (2019-21) at the University of Florida, registering 79 tackles (52 solo), six interceptions, 26 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Chargers’ placement of James on injured reserve removes a veteran safety from their defensive unit and prompted immediate roster moves. Adding Waxter to the active roster gives Los Angeles a young cornerback with extensive collegiate experience and brief regular-season exposure this year. Elevating Elam brings a player with multiple NFL starts and postseason experience into the game-day lineup. Those transactions, announced Oct. 31, 2026, aim to bolster depth and coverage options in the secondary for Sunday’s game.