Sights and sounds from Chargers-49ers joint practices: Day 2

Some footage from the finale of the Chargers 2021 training camp.

That’s all, folks.

The Chargers finished their 17 training camp practices alongside the 49ers on Friday afternoon.

To see what the finale was like, here are some videos from today’s session below, courtesy of media members and fans in attendance.

Chargers safety Derwin James caps off training camp on strong note

Derwin James appears to be back to his All-Pro form.

With the Chargers training camp officially at an end, among the highlights was having Derwin James back on the field after missing the entire 2020 season with a knee injury that he sustained in last year’s camp.

Looking like he didn’t lose a step, the former All-Pro safety capped off camp with two impressive showings in the joint practices with the 49ers Thursday and Friday.

Lined up all across the defensive formation, James made a handful of plays in all phases, especially in coverage against one of the league’s best tight ends, George Kittle.

Kittle won a few reps, but James also got the better of him, including an interception off of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo near the goal line that he took back to the house.

As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. James was grateful to be able to go up against a player of Kittle’s caliber to end a productive 17 days of practices.

James won’t hit the field again until next month when Los Angeles kicks off the regular season against The Washington Football Team, given head coach Brandon Staley’s decision to exclude him from preseason play.

But the great thing is that he managed to stay healthy leading up into it.

When James is on the field, the Bolts are that much better, considering he is a one-man wrecking crew that has dictated a large portion of the team’s success in prior years.

In 2018, which is the year James did play a complete season, the Chargers were 12-4 and in the playoff. The past two seasons, in which he was hurt, they had a losing record and missed the postseason both times.

The hope for this season is that James can stay on the field for the full 17-game slate and provide that big spark in 2021.