Chargers rookie defensive back Derwin James has been steadily improving

throughout training camp Terron Armstead Jersey , but the next two weeks should be a better indicator of how much the first-round pick will be able to contribute this season.Los Angeles faces potent quarterbacks and passing attacks in its next two games. The Chargers host Seattle and Russell Wilson on Saturday while New Orleans and Drew Brees will be in for two days of joint workouts next week before their game on Aug. 24."Every week is going to be a challenge. You're competing against the best, so that pretty much tells you where you stand," said James, the 17th overall selection in this year's draft.James should expect to see plenty of snaps Saturday. In last week's exhibition opener at Arizona, he was on the field for 29 plays in a 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. That was the most among defensive backs and tied for second-most on defense.He also saw more reps during training camp practices this week as some of the veterans got rest days. He had two pass breakups on deep routes during 11-on-11 drills on Wednesday.Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has lauded James for his high football intelligence, and said he has picked things up pretty quickly in the classroom. But Bradley notes that what James is going through right now is common with all rookies."Now, it's coming out on the field and putting it together. He's in that phase right now, but it's coming," Bradley said. "If he makes a mistake Cameron Jordan Jersey Salute to Service , he knows right now. It's just that next step, which you see sometimes with young guys. You have to work not to think anymore, and he's kind of at that stage."Bradley is playing James in packages similar to what he had the past three seasons at Florida State. He is lining up at safety in base packages but is also seeing some time at linebacker in nickel or dime situations.James notes, though, that his biggest adjustment is knowing different formations, since most college teams run more of a spread with some up-tempo. James said Bradley's system is simpler than what he had in college."He doesn't ask you to do too much. It's pretty self-explanatory what he's teaching us," James said. "It allows us to play fast. You have to really do your job. It's less work, but it's more efficient work."Wide receiver Mike Williams, who went against James while at Clemson Michael Thomas Jersey Salute to Service , said he hasn't noticed James struggling during practices, especially when the two are matched up against each other in drills."He goes out there and makes a lot of plays. He has a big body back there at safety and isn't afraid of contact. He wants to hit you," Williams said.James said he is anxious to take part in the Chargers' first home game Saturday at StubHub Center, but he is still focusing on continuing to improve his technique and trying to eliminate penalties with three weeks remaining until the season opener on Sept. 9 against Kansas City."There's not a lot of room for error. One step wrong and a guy is going the distance. You really have to hone in on what they're telling you and what you're doing," he said. "It's much different than high school where I can get away with a lot of stuff because I was more athletic than most guys. Now you have to come out here and do what you need to do." Andrew Luck might be playing the best football of his career.He's still going to need help reaching the playoffs with mounting injuries threatening to derail the Indianapolis Colts' late postseason push.One week after starting center Ryan Kelly went down with a left knee injury and one day after coach Frank Reich announced tight end Jack Doyle would miss the rest of the season with an injured kidney, Luck and his teammates started preparing for the closing five-game stretch that will determine whether they end a three-year playoff drought."We've done it before," tight end Eric Ebron said Tuesday said when asked about the adjustments. "Everybody has to take on a heavier workload."Doyle was injured late in the third quarter or early in the fourth, returned for two plays before leaving for good and then wound up in the hospital Sunday night for what Reich called a "procedure."The team provided no immediate update on whether Doyle had been released from the hospital during Tuesday's availability.The adaptations start with Ebron, the lone remaining healthy tight end among the five listed on last week's depth chart. He's already caught 11 touchdown passes this season Authentic Craig Robertson Jersey , matching his previous four-year total and tying Dallas Clark's single-season franchise record by a tight end and has played the way Detroit envisioned when it made Ebron a first-round draft pick in 2014.It's unclear whether Mo Alie-Cox, Ryan Hewitt or Erik Swoope could return from injuries this week. All three were inactive last weekend, and Reich's offense has benefited from creating mismatches among the tight ends."We are hopeful and optimistic that some of those guys 鈥?one or two or all three of those guys 鈥?will be ready," Reich said Monday. "They have been making good progress."But the hits have come hard and fast for Indy (6-5), which has won five straight to jump back into the playoff conversation.Kelly missed last week's game with a sprained medial collateral ligament and without him, the Colts allowed their first sack in six games. Luck went 249 consecutive drop-backs without being sacked, the longest streak of his pro career.Kelly's status for this week is still to be determined though he said Tuesday he felt much better and was running on the treadmill."It's been progressing pretty well," said Kelly, who was replaced in the lineup by midseason signee Evan Boehm. "The brace has helped."Not enough?Running back Marlon Mack entered the concussion protocol during the fourth quarter Sunday Alex Okafor Jersey , did not return and now his status also is in doubt this weekend.If he can't go, the Colts will be down to their two rookies 鈥?Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins 鈥?and possibly Jonathan Williams, presuming nobody else is signed. Williams hasn't played since Indy signed him to the practice squad Oct. 2. He was promoted to the active roster last week.One saving grace for Indy: Rookie linebacker Darius Leonard escaped a serious knee injury that briefly knocked him out of Sunday's game after the first offensive play. Leonard returned and finished the game and continues to lead the NFL with 114 tackles despite missing one game in October.But losing Doyle may create the most damaging impact for Indy.He followed his first Pro Bowl selection with 26 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns in six games. The Colts went 1-4 when he missed five games earlier this season with a bad hip and they had won all four since his Week 8 return against Oakland.Doyle's absence leaves a big hole on the field 鈥?and in the locker room."It hurts," Ebron said. "I'm more hurt because of the type of player he is and what he means to the team and to me. But we've done it before. We just have to adjust a few things." NFL Outlet