Chargers' star defender receives suspension following controversial hit on Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth
Their once was a time when the NFL made an example out of former Pittsburgh Steelers star, and potential hall of fame LB James Harrison. Fining and suspending Harrison for his hits, many of which were helmet to helmet, the league used him as a jumping-off point for their ban on forceable contact to the […]
Their once was a time when the NFL made an example out of former Pittsburgh Steelers star, and potential hall of fame LB James Harrison.
Fining and suspending Harrison for his hits, many of which were helmet to helmet, the league used him as a jumping-off point for their ban on forceable contact to the head and neck area.
But in case some players across the league forgot, they used the Steelers most recent opponent, and more specially Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James as a dissuasion for such hits:
Derwin James Suspended Without Pay for Hit on Freiermuth
Derwin James Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers has been suspended without pay for one game for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during this Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
– Tom Pelissero, NFL Media Via X
A repeat offender, James is one of the more physical players in the league, and he was all over the field during Sunday's statement win from Pittsburgh. An aggressive player, James went a little too far according to the NFL:
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. 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. 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.
– NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan (Via Adam Schefter)
James has the right to appeal the decision, a likely outcome given the severity of the penalty.
