Derwin James Jr., the popular safety of the Los Angeles Chargers, will be absent from the upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The development comes after the NFL upheld James’ one-game suspension for “repeated violations of the rules of the game.”
NFL Upholds James’ Suspension For Repeat Violations
The official announcement of James’ suspension came Monday, following an unnecessary foul flag in a recent game. The incident involved a hard hit on Pat Freiermuth, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end, in the third quarter of a recent 20-10 loss to Los Angeles.
James’ record on Unnecessary Right
Interestingly, this is not the first time James has been flagged for unnecessary harshness. During his career, James has collected seven such flags, putting him in a three-way tie with Marshon Lattimore and Jordan Poyer for the second most in the NFL as of 2018. Xavier Woods leads the pack with eight flags.
Appeal Denied, Suspension Suspended
James, a former All-Pro, appealed the suspension. However, Michael Signora, the NFL’s Vice President of Football and International Communications, upheld the suspension Tuesday night.
NFL Repeats Its Stance on Player Safety
In an open letter to James, Jon Runyan, Vice President of Football Operations, emphasized the importance of player safety. He pointed out that the video shows James lowering his head during the hit, which led to illegal, forceful contact with his helmet. Runyan warned that repeated violations of safety rules will not be tolerated, especially if they pose a significant risk of injury to opposing players.
Potential Impact on Charger List
The Chargers’ roster for Sunday’s game could be significantly affected by the absence of players. Key players such as Justin Herbert (ankle), offensive lineman Joe Alt (MCL sprain), Rashawn Slater, and outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) may also be out with injuries.
