Derwin James Out as Chargers Host Broncos in Week 5

Derwin James will not play Sunday when the Chargers host the Broncos. The Chargers ruled out their star safety with a hamstring injury on Friday, along with right tackle Joe Alt (neck), and placed left tackle Rashawn Slater on injured reserve with an ankle injury, per Chargers.com.

That is a brutal Friday for the Bolts heading into a division game at SoFi Stadium. Losing James takes the heartbeat out of the defense, and losing both bookend tackles in the same week puts a lot of pressure on the offensive line against a Denver front that is fully healthy.

The full Chargers injury list

Seven Chargers are out for Week 5: James, Alt, cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring), wide receiver Quentin Johnston (chest), wide receiver Brenen Thompson (quad), offensive lineman Trevor Penning (concussion) and guard Kayode Awosika (fibula).

Ladd McConkey is questionable with a foot injury after not practicing all week. Tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm), guard/tackle Branson Taylor, Scott Matlock (foot) and cornerback Rodney Shelley (hamstring) are also questionable. Backup quarterback Trey Lance is doubtful with a groin issue.

James, Alt and Jackson did not practice at all this week, so none of those feel like surprise scratches. The good news: Khalil Mack, who took a rest day Wednesday and practiced fully Thursday and Friday, is off the report, along with Cam Hart, Alec Ingold, Deane Leonard and Dalvin Tomlinson.

Fantasy fans, McConkey is the one to sweat. Three straight DNPs and a questionable tag is not what you want from your WR1, and with Johnston and Thompson both out, the Chargers receiver room gets thin fast if he sits.

Denver is banged up at corner too

The Broncos have their own secondary problem. Denver ruled out All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II (ankle) and fellow starting corner Riley Moss (ribs), both hurt in Week 4 against the 49ers, per DenverBroncos.com. Wide receiver Pat Bryant (ankle) went to injured reserve Friday.

Everybody else on Denver's 53-man roster is available, including outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury and practiced fully Thursday and Friday.

Who wins the injury battle?

So here is the matchup. The Chargers are missing their best defender and both starting tackles. The Broncos are missing their two starting corners. Whichever quarterback takes advantage of a short-handed secondary probably walks out of SoFi with a big AFC West win.

Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. PT on CBS. Bolts fans, this one is going to be a grind.