COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Chargers fans on Wednesday finally got to see what they had been hoping for three weeks into training camp - a smiling Derwin James running out to the field in his powder blue practice jersey, helmets and shoulder pads.

James took part in his first practice after signing a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension, making him the NFL's highest-paid safety.

"This wasn't like every other big contract that gets signed, because you know what he had to go through in order to make it to this point in his career," coach Brandon Staley said. "He overcame a lot to earn this contract, and he earned every cent of it. He was a big, big leader for us today out there."