Derwin James learned some important lessons after serving a one-game suspension for hitting defenseless receivers.
The safety for the Los Angeles Chargers isn’t planning to change how he plays physically, but he knows he needs to tackle lower.
“It’s definitely not going to change nothing. Like I said, I’m just going to go lower. I’m not going to change,” James said on Wednesday after a two-hour practice before their bye week. “I’m not going to keep paying 700, 800,000 (dollars).”
James mentioned that his hearing with appeals officer Derrick Brooks didn’t offer any new ideas on how to avoid being penalized for unnecessary roughness.
This seventh-year safety has drawn a lot of attention since a Monday night game against Indianapolis in Week 16 of 2022, where he received two personal fouls in just three plays. One of those was for hitting Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin with the top of his helmet.
Since that game, James has racked up nearly $800,000 in fines, which includes $708,333 for last week’s suspension.
He was suspended for hitting Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during the third quarter of a 20-10 loss in Pittsburgh on Sept. 22, which was seen as the final straw.
Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations, stated in his suspension letter that James could have avoided hitting Freiermuth with his helmet since he had a clear path.
During the offseason and training camp, James has reached out to officials and the league for advice on how to keep his aggressive playing style while following NFL rules.
