10月16日，切尔西官方公布，队长里斯·詹姆斯在训练过程中不幸受伤，现已进行了膝盖微创手术，并进入了恢复阶段。至于他何时回归赛场，俱乐部尚未公布具体时间。不过，据多家英国媒体透露，里斯·詹姆斯的预计恢复期大约为三个月。
在本赛季中，詹姆斯已遭遇一次因伤缺阵的经历。在9月12日与赫尔城的对决中，他作为队长领衔首发，与拉维亚共同镇守中场。赛后，主教练阿隆索透露，詹姆斯在比赛中遭受了轻微伤害，其恢复进度尚不满足重返布伦特福德的比赛需求。
On October 9th, the club announced an improvement in James's health condition; however, the following day, he was forced to sit out of the match against Bournemouth due to a newly emerged injury. Last term, James participated in 39 matches across all competitions, starting in 29 of them; as of now this season, he has featured in 6 matches.
里斯·詹姆斯的病历簿上，伤病记录屡见不鲜。