Chargers' Derwin James Receives One-Game Suspension for Unnecessary Roughness

Monday, September 23rd, 2024

The NFL has decided to suspend Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. for one game without pay. This decision comes as a result of repeated breaches of rules aimed at safeguarding player health and safety. One notable incident was his hit on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during Sunday's game.

James plans to appeal the suspension. If the appeal is unsuccessful, he will miss the Chargers' game against the Chiefs on September 29th and will be eligible to play again on September 30th.

During the third quarter of the Chargers' 20-10 loss, James received a penalty for unnecessary roughness. The infraction occurred when he lowered his head and made avoidable, illegal helmet-to-helmet contact with Freiermuth.

In an official communication, NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan emphasized that James' repeated disregard for the playing rules would not be tolerated. Runyan also indicated that such repeated violations, which pose a significant injury risk, would be met with severe penalties.

Throughout his career, James has incurred seven penalties for unnecessary roughness, tied for the second highest since 2018. However, he has accumulated these penalties in fewer games compared to other players with similar records.

Following Sunday's game, James expressed his frustration with the penalty. He mentioned that he had stopped seeking advice from officials on how to avoid such violations but would review game footage to assess if a fine was warranted.

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