Reece James Injury Update: Is James Playing Today vs. DR Congo in World Cup?

England RB Reece James has been officially ruled out of England's Round of 32 knockout stage match against DR Congo on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Chelsea captain was able to finish England’s Matchday 2 draw versus Ghana last Tuesday before reports emerged he was dealing with another hamstring injury. The 26-year-old has missed significant time throughout his pro career with hamstring issues, per Transfermarkt.

The Three Lions are expected to advance past the Round of 32 against DR Congo despite missing their starting right back this afternoon. According to PrizePicks, England has an 87% chance to win, with a 1.09x payout to take down DR Congo in regulation. Team Picks markets are settled after full-time (90 minutes + stoppage). Extra time and penalties are not included.

Below, we'll break down the latest James injury update for Wednesday’s Round of 32 match, how long James will be out for, and what World Cup picks to potentially target on PrizePicks with James out.

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Reece James Injury Update: Is Reece James Playing Today vs. DR Congo?

James has dealt with his most recent hamstring injury on and off since March, now missing nine matches for both club and country. The timetable for the return is up in the air, but the English RB may still be in the cards should England advance to the Round of 16 later today.

The Chelsea star’s poor injury history has given Three Lions fans pause on whether they will see James back before the end of the competition. Manager Thomas Tuchel mentioned that James arrived in great shape and that he is progressing in training, leaving the possibility of a return open for now.

The fact that James was able to complete the full 90 minutes in his final match bodes well for England’s starting RB. While it was reported early on that James would miss England’s next two matches, it is worth noting that he progressed far enough to be in contention to make the squad until the very end, as per Tuchel.

England should be able to handle DR Congo’s mediocre attack even without one of the team’s best defenders included in Wednesday’s squad. Group K’s third-placed team scored 4 goals in the group stage and created just 1.3 big chances per game. The African side overperformed on xG by 0.58 goals across its first three matches.

Make your England vs. DR Congo Round of 32 predictions for the World Cup on PrizePicks.

How Long is Reece James Out?

According to Tuchel, James will be available “very soon,” with the Three Lions’ next match coming against Mexico on Friday, June 5, should they beat DR Congo. The player himself is confident he will make his return and play a crucial role for Tuchel and his country down the stretch of the tournament.

Hamstring problems have proven hard to gauge for the Chelsea defender in the past, but all signs from England’s camp have been positive over the past few days. If James is unable to play in the Round of 16 vs. Mexico, his next opportunity would be July 11 in the quarterfinals, should England advance.

It will be interesting to follow the news from England’s training sessions over the next few days if the Three Lions can take down DR Congo later today.

What England Players to Target for PrizePicks with Reece James Out?

Unfortunately for England, James is not the only right back to have suffered an injury during the group stage. Bayer Leverkusen's young star, Jarell Quansah, suffered an ankle injury in his first World Cup start on Matchday 3 of the group stage. Quansah was starting in place of the injured James, which now causes even further strain for the Three Lions at the full-back position.

Djed Spence was subbed on for the injured Quansah vs. Panama and is expected to get the start on Wednesday afternoon for England. The Tottenham defender typically plays as a left back, with his preferred foot being his right. The 25-year-old played well on the right-hand side in his 27-minute cameo this past Saturday and will likely get the nod once again later today.

Here are England’s players who may benefit most statistically on PrizePicks with Reece James out vs. DR Congo today, plus their World Cup stat projections for Wednesday.

• LB/RB Djed Spence — 0.5 Shots (Goblin) / 0.5 Fouls (Goblin) / 2.5 Tackles (Demon)
• MF Elliot Anderson — 86.5 Passes Attempted / 1.5 Shots (Demon) / 0.5 Goal + Assist (Demon) 
• RW Bukayo Saka  — 32.5 Passes Attempted / 1.5 Shots (Goblin) / 0.5 Goals (Demon) 

English media believe Spence will receive the nod on Wednesday, with James confirmed to be out for the Round of 32. Tuchel will have several options to fill the position but is likely leaning towards the Tottenham defender after subbing him on following Quansah's most recent injury.

Veteran center backs John Stones and Trevoh Chalobah could also be in contention for the start as center backs who typically play on the right side of a back four. Spence is considered the more likely option due to his ability to get forward, unlike the others, which is a key component of Tuchel’s tactics.

Combine England to Win + Djed Spence picks on PrizePicks

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Make England vs. DR Congo Round of 32 Picks on PrizePicks

James is out; Spence is likely set to start, and England’s Round of 32 World Cup match is just hours away. 

Filling James' shoes won't be easy, but England will have to manage without him once again today and possibly for the remainder of the tournament.

Don't wait until lock — make your England vs. DR Congo Round of 32 picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you're right.

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