COSTA MESA — Chargers coach Brandon Staley is rarely brief when reporters ask about Derwin James’ importance to the team.

Staley has provided paragraphs worth of praise throughout the season for his versatile star safety, who has been playing at least five positions while relaying defensive calls to teammates.

“When I’ve talked about him in the past, I hope that you guys don’t think that I’m just doing that for effect because I’m certainly not,” Staley said. “I probably don’t describe him well enough.”

James doesn’t need compliments from Staley to prove why he’s one of the best players in the NFL. His performances on game days make that clear, but Staley doesn’t pass on opportunities to show his gratitude for James because his complex defense doesn’t function as well without him, which has been noticeable during James’ absence.

James was cleared to play against the Denver Broncos on Sunday after missing time the past few weeks because of a lingering hamstring injury. Staley said his do-it-all safety will start this weekend and won’t be on a snap count.

“A lot more recovery,” Staley said Friday about why James is ready to play this week. “A lot more progress (for the hamstring) and it’s definitely firing at a much different level than it was last week.”

James, who sustained the hamstring injury on Dec. 10, didn’t play in Week 14 against the New York Giants and was kept on the sideline as an emergency player last week against the Houston Texans. He played against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15, but the hamstring bothered him throughout the game and kept him on the sideline for most of the second half.

The Chargers’ defense appeared lost without James during the surprising loss to the struggling Texans last week. Staley had to simplify his defensive scheme with James on the sideline, and even then the inexperienced secondary had no answers for slowing Texans rookie quarterback Davis Mills and running back Rex Burkhead.

The Chargers were also without their top outside cornerback Michael Davis, who tested positive for COVID-19 minutes before his teammates played in Houston.

Davis is expected to return with James, but the Chargers now could be without slot cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and safeties Nasir Adderley and Alohi Gilman because they’re on the COVID-19 reserve list. The team will decide Saturday whether they’re fit to play against the Broncos.

The defensive backs are eligible to return to the team because of the new COVID-19 protocols implemented by the NFL this week, which allows players to return after a five-day quarantine regardless of vaccination status.

It’s no coincidence the Chargers missed the postseason the past two seasons with James sidelined for 27 out of 32 games because of multiple injuries. James was so dominant as a rookie in 2018 that few forget what he provides for the Chargers when healthy.

James quickly returned to form this season, earned another Pro Bowl selection and had the Chargers well-positioned for a playoff berth before sustaining the hamstring injury.

The Chargers remain in the playoff race, despite a two-game losing streak, and will get a boost from James being on the field Sunday for a critical game against the Broncos.

“Since Derwin’s played for the Chargers, I know what our record is with him and what it is without him, and there’s a reason for that,” Staley said. “There are a couple of players in sports that have that kind of impact on their teams. He just happens to be a defensive player. You’re mostly used to it with quarterbacks. You’re mostly associating someone not being at the game being a quarterback, but he is a quarterback for us. He is a quarterback for our team.

“What he does for our team, on the field as a player, and certainly for our defense, what Derwin does is he makes everything better because he can be in a lot of different places.”

The Chargers lacked pass coverage, pressure at the line of scrimmage and momentum-changing plays against the Texans. James is capable of providing all of that on a weekly basis.

The Chargers were able to beat the struggling Giants at home without James, but the absence caught up to them during a pivotal loss to the Chiefs on Dec. 16. James played with the injured hamstring, but he was unable to continue in the second half. That’s when quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce took over the game for the Chiefs.

That Thursday night game was another example of why James is so important to the Chargers, and why Staley raves about him at length.

COOK LIKELY OUT AGAINST BRONCOS

Chargers tight end Jared Cook was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Friday, and he’s unlikely to play against the Broncos, according to Staley.

Cook increased the team’s virus list to 10 active players, which includes Adderley, Gilman, Chris Harris Jr., right tackle Storm Norton, kicker Dustin Hopkins, linebacker Kenneth Murray, defensive back Davontae Harris, offensive tackle Trey Pipkins and long snapper Matt Overton.

The team has until 1 p.m. on Saturday to decide whether to activate those players to the 53-man roster. The nine players who went on the COVID list before Cook didn’t practice this week, which will make the decisions tougher for the team when deciding if they’re fit to play this weekend.

“That’s why we’re going to have to really be connected, and why several people within those position groups have to be ready to play if they need a break,” Staley said about the players possibly playing after not practicing this week. “I think this is what this whole sort of situation reveals is that you need to have all hands on deck and you need to make a lot of adjustments at the game.”

Staley said he expects Stephen Anderson and Tre’ McKitty to split snaps at tight end to fill Cook’s void. Fullback Gabe Nabers and Hunter Kampmoyer, who is on the practice squad, could also be a part of the tight ends rotation.

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If Norton and Pipkins aren’t cleared to play, Staley said offensive guards Matt Feiler and rookie Brenden Jaimes are options to start at right tackle. If Feiler moves from left guard to right tackle, Jaimes would take over at left guard, according to Staley.

INJURY UPDATES

Linebacker Drue Tranquill (ankle) was ruled doubtful for Sunday.

If Murray is activated off the COVID list, he would replace Tranquill as a starting inside linebacker, according to Staley. Rookies Amen Ogbongbemiga and Nick Niemann are also expected to get snaps at linebacker.

Staley said he’ll decide Saturday whether to activate edge rusher Kyler Fackrell and rookie defensive back Mark Webb from injured reserve. Both returned to practice this week after undergoing knee procedures.