The Los Angeles Chargers had a rough Week 3. Not only did they fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-10, they also are dealing with injuries to Justin Herbert, Joey Bosa, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
Now, to add to the multiple starters who are likely to be sidelined for Week 4, safety Derwin James Jr. has been suspended one game without pay for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.”
Officially, Derwin James is suspended for forcible contact with his helmet. From NFL executive Jon Runyan to James: https://t.co/t919WkmbTl pic.twitter.com/EDw1AKrdjn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2024
According to a release that was sent to James via NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan:
“During the third quarter of Sunday’s Chargers-Steelers game you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules. The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact to Steelers tight end, Pat Freiermuth. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated. Substantial penalties are warranted when players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.”
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero showed a video of the helmet-to-helmet hit that James delivered on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth:
Here’s the hit that earned #Chargers S Derwin James a one-game suspension for repeat violations of the NFL’s safety rules.
“The video of the play shows that you lowered your head and made forcible contact. … Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated.” pic.twitter.com/2KUxc25zrm
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2024
The injuries and James’ suspension comes at the worst time for the Chargers, who are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
