Chargers’ Derwin James Suspended 1 Game vs. Chiefs After Hit on Steelers’ Freiermuth

Andrew PetersSeptember 23, 2024

Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has been suspended one game without pay for “repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The suspension comes after the 28-year-old made forcible contact with Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth with his helmet on Sunday.

Per Rapoport, NFL executive Jon Runyan sent the following message to James:

Ian Rapoport @RapSheetOfficially, 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

Rapoport also noted that the 2018 first-rounder plans to appeal the suspension.

The hit against Freiermuth was flagged for unnecessary roughness, though James argued after the game that he shouldn’t have been penalized.

“Like I said, I don’t want to keep the drive going,” he told reporters. “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.”

Over the course of his six-year career, James has racked up five fines for a total of $127,792, with all of those being for some form of unnecessary roughness. The suspension marks the first of his career.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL warned specific players ahead of the season that it would not hold back on suspensions. The league sent the memo to more than 20 players who had been suspended during the past two seasons, though it didn’t clarify which names were on that list.

Given the fact that James has never been suspended, he likely was not included.

The FSU product has had a successful six-year career with the Chargers. Last season, he had a career-high 125 tackles along with two sacks, an interception and seven passes deflected.

James’ outstanding defense will be missed when Los Angeles looks for a big win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.