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Derwin James Jr. to Miss Crucial Clash Against Kansas City Chiefs
Derwin James Jr., the Los Angeles Chargers’ renowned safety, is set to be absent in the upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This development comes after the NFL confirmed a one-game suspension for James due to “repeated infringements of playing rules.”
NFL Upholds James’ Suspension for Repeated Rules Violations
The official announcement of James’ suspension came out on Monday, following a flag for unnecessary roughness during a recent game. The incident involved a hard hit against Pat Freiermuth, the tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, during the third quarter of Los Angeles’ recent 20-10 defeat.
James’ Track Record in Unnecessary Roughness
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time James has been flagged for unnecessary roughness. Over his career, James has accumulated seven such flags, placing him in a three-way tie with Marshon Lattimore and Jordan Poyer for the second-highest in the NFL since 2018. Xavier Woods leads the pack with eight flags.
Appeal Denied, Suspension Upheld
James, an ex-All-Pro, made an appeal against the suspension. However, Michael Signora, NFL’s Vice President of Football and International Communications, maintained the suspension on Tuesday night.
The NFL Reiterates its Stance on Player Safety
In an open letter to James, Jon Runyan, the Vice President of Football Operations, emphasized the importance of player safety. He pointed out that the video footage showed James lowering his head during the hit, leading to an illegal, forceful contact with his helmet. Runyan warned that repeated violations of safety rules would not be tolerated, especially when they pose a substantial risk of injury to opposing players.
Potential Impact on the Chargers’ Lineup
The Chargers’ lineup for Sunday’s game could be further impacted by other potential absences. Key players such as quarterback Justin Herbert (ankle), offensive tackles Joe Alt (MCL sprain), Rashawn Slater, and outside linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) may also be unavailable due to injuries.
