The LA Chargers are already battling a slew of injuries ahead of the team's first game against the Kansas City Chiefs of the Jim Harbaugh era. Beating the Chiefs is already hard enough and it is made even harder when when the injuries start to pile up.
Injuries are not the only thing that will impact the status of star Chargers players in Week 4. Star safety Derwin James also will not be suiting up for the Chargers against the Chiefs as the NFL has handed James a one-game suspension, without pay, for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players".
James was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a hit on Pat Freiermuth in the third quarter against the Steelers. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport revealed some of the verbiage used in the letter to James explaining the suspension.
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: The NFL has suspended #Chargers star safety Derwin James for one game. pic.twitter.com/JqAvB6hC7u
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 23, 2024
Derwin James was warned by the NFL prior to Chargers-Steelers
As frustrating as this is as a fan, it is not coming completely out of left field. James was one of 20 players who were warned via a league memo before the 2024 season began about potential sanctions due to previous unnecessary violation penalties.
James has been flagged for unnecessary roughness seven times throughout his career, which is tied for the second most in the league since his NFL debut. Many of these penalties have been called in the last three seasons, hence the league's urgency to send a message.
James is planning to appeal the suspension. If unsuccessful, Chargers fans will not see him in action again until Week 6 as the team has a Week 5 bye.
Fans of old "hard-nosed" football certainly are not happy with the suspension being handed to James. Twenty years ago James would have gotten away with all of his hard hits and would be touted as one of the most physical players in the sport.
However, the game has changed and the onus is on the players to adapt to that change. Fans' personal feelings on how games are officiated do not matter; regardless of whether or not someone thinks it should be a penalty does not change the fact the league has been consistent in flagging these hits. And unfortunately for the Chargers, James has not fully adjusted.
James' physicality is the best part of his game and it does create a very fine line for the safety to toe. According to the league, he went over the line.