The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed safety Jaylen Watkins Sunday, one day after he was among 36 players released by the deadline to reduce their roster to the 53-player regular-season limit.
Watkins played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014-17 and suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Chargers second preseason game in 2018.
The Chargers re-signed Watkins after placing safety Derwin James on reserve/injured. James underwent successful surgery on Aug. 22 to address a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot sustained in a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints Aug. 15, a team official said.
The Chargers waited to place James on reserve/injured until after they set their 53-player roster.
Because James was placed on reserve/injured he can return to the active roster in Week 9 or later. Players placed on reserve/injured before the 53-player roster is set cannot return to the active roster that season.
James was selected as a starter for the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2018.
The Chargers signed nine players they had cut Saturday to their practice squad Sunday, including one who played regular-season games for them in 2018, running back Detrez Newsome.
Two other players signed to the practice squad Sunday also have NFL regular-season game experience — guard Spencer Drango, who played 32 games for the Cleveland Browns in 2016-17, starting 19, and defensive end Anthony Lanier II, who played 13 games for Washington in 2016-17.
Receiver Artavis Scott, who spent the 2017 season on the practice squad and 2018 on injured reserve after sustaining a leg injury in the preseason finale, was also signed to the practice squad, as was receiver Andre Patton, who was on the Chargers practice squad in 2018.
The other four players signed to the practice squad were all undrafted rookies — guard Chris Brown, cornerback Kemon Hall, receiver Jason Moore and tight end Matt Sokol.
The Chargers have one spot remaining on their practice squad.
Of the first seven players signed to the practice squad last season, two were promoted to the active roster.