Why was Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James suspended for 1 game without pay?

As they prepare for a Week 4 clash the reigning Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Chargers will do so knowing that they won’t be able to count on the services of their safety who has now been sanctioned by the league.

NFL issue statement on Derwin James’ suspension

According to reports on Monday, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James was handed a one-game suspension by the NFL for repeatedly breaking player safety rules. As seen during the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the 28-year-old had a role in several plays that can only be described as unnecessarily rough.

More specifically, James made helmet-to-helmet contact with Steelers tight end Pat Feiermuth as he attempted to bring him down during the third quarter of the game at Acrisure Stadium. To that end, the league has now issued a statement in connection with James’ suspension, seemingly explaining the grounds on which the decision was taken.

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“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,” was the statement via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “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.” The league’s statement continued, doubling down on James’ apparent indifference where the rules of the game are concerned. “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.”

Additional reports have since indicated that James intends to appeal the decision but it remains unclear on what basis he intends to do so. Where his numbers are concerned, James has registered 21 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit on the season so far. Now in his seventh year with the Chargers since being selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he has established himself as a key member of the defense in LA. That’s to say, his absence will be felt but perhaps no more so than the heavy hit which earned him a suspension.