EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Derwin James came away with a couple important takeaways after serving a one-game suspension for repeated hits to defenseless receivers. The Los Angeles Chargers' safety isn't going to change his physical playing style, but he does have to consistently go lower when making a tackle.
“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 the Chargers held a two-hour practice before going on their bye week.
"“I’m not going to keep paying 700, 800,000 (dollars).” James said his hearing with appeals officer Derrick Brooks didn't shed any light on additional steps he could do to get off the league's radar when it comes to getting called for unnecessary roughness. The seventh-year safety has received plenty of attention since a Week 16 Monday night game at Indianapolis in 2022 when he drew two personal fouls in three plays in the first half.
The latter was hitting Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin with the crown of his helmet. Since then, James has amassed nearly $800,000 in fines, including $708,333 in base salary for last week's suspension. James was suspended for his hit on Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during the third quarter of a 20-10 loss at Pittsburgh on Sept.
22 as the last straw. Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations, said in his suspension letter that James could have avoided lowering his head and making contact .