Chargers’ Derwin James Jr. suspended for illegal hit during Steelers’ game and repeated violation of safety rules

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 past Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The #NFL has suspended #Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. one game without pay for violating player-safety regulations, including in the teams game against the #Steelers with a helmet-to-helmet strike, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/fjS45Bq7G4
— PSF Updates (@PSF_Updates) September 23, 2024

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 10 (a) which states that “it is a foul if a player lowers his head and makes forcible contact with his helmet against an opponent.”

In a letter to James, Runyan, who noted that James has had multiple offenses for personal fouls in recent seasons, wrote:

“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.”

James has been called for seven unnecessary roughness penalties in his career, according to ESPN. You can see his most recent and obvious violation play out in the video reel below.

REPORT: Derwin James Jr suspended one game without pay for violating the league’s player safety rules

He will appeal the decision pic.twitter.com/xVDyOgkBw2
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) September 23, 2024

James will be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster on Monday, September 30, following the team’s September 29 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, James may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae, or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.