The Los Angeles Chargers defense has been one of the best units in the NFL through the first three weeks. One of the anchors of the unit is safety Derwin James. Since entering the league in 2018, he has been one of the best defenders in the league. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in his rookie year and has been to three Pro Bowls. However, the team will be without him for the next game. The NFL suspended James for one game after his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Los Angeles Chargers Derwin James Suspended
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the suspension is due to repeated behaviors by the Los Angeles Chargers player. He has been suspended without pay for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.” The hit in question was against tight end Pat Freiermuth. The letter sent to Derwin James stated he lowered his head, and the contact could have been avoided. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness but the league office decided the repeated offenses warranted a suspension.
Rapoport reported that James will be appealing the decision. After the game, he explained his side of the play to the media.
“Like I said, I don’t want to keep the drive going. I’m trying to get the guy on the ground. I don’t feel like I hit him in the head or neck, but we’ll look at it.”
This isn’t the first time he has been fined for illegal hits. Over his six-year career, he has been fined five times for over $120,000. However, this is the first time he has been suspended for violation of league policies.
Heavy Emphasis
The NFL sent a memo to players before the season that they would not hesitate to suspend players for illegal hits. However, this message was only sent to players who had been previously suspended. Derwin James was not on that list, as he had not been previously suspended. The suspension could not come at a worse time for the Los Angeles Chargers. Sunday’s matchup against the Chiefs is a huge early-season divisional game. If the Chargers could steal one from the defending champs, they would have an early lead in the division and sit at 3-1.
While James will appeal the decision, those rarely end in favor of the player. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will have to craft a defensive gameplan to try and slow down the Chiefs offense. The Los Angeles Chargers are also dealing with many injuries, including quarterback Justin Herbert. The NFL is often about a “next man up” mentality. The Chargers will need someone to step up and try and steal a game from a division opponent in week 4.
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