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The Los Angeles Chargers have received a major setback as their star safety, Derwin James Jr., has been suspended for a game by the NFL for a violation of its rules during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The team had recorded their first defeat under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, and of the 2024 season as well, in that game.
For what exactly has Derwin James been suspended? According to the statement released by the NFL, in the third quarter of the game, he had lowered his head and intentionally head-butted Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth. The NFL added that he could've avoided the brutal collision if he had chosen, but he did not.
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The NFL has decreed that James will have to miss one game as a penalty for violating player safety rules. He will have to skip the game on September 29 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Derwin James will also have to go without pay for that particular game.
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However, he does have the chance to appeal against his suspension. The appeal may result in no change at all, a reduction in penalty, or even a discarding of the punishment should the league find during the appeals process that Derwin James was not in violation of its rules.
Derwin James has been a repeat offender
What stood out in the statement by the league was a particular statement by NFL VP of football operations, Jon Runyan:
"Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules will not be tolerated."
The 28-year-old has been penalized 22 times and has been forced to pay multiple fines ever since he entered the league as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft of 2018. In the Steelers game itself, he was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
James has emerged as a crucial defensive weapon and has registered 21 tackles and one sack in the current season.
This comes at a really bad time for the Chargers, who are already banged up due to several players nursing injuries. QB Justin Herbert has been designated as "uncertain" due to an aggravated high ankle sprain. OTs Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are also nursing injuries.
The Chargers will have to face the reigning Super Bowl champions without Alt, Herbert, and now James.
Will the Los Angeles Chargers register their second straight defeat of the Jim Harbaugh era on Sunday?
LA Chargers Nation! Check out the latest Chargers Schedule and dive into the Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.
