Derwin James was ejected from the Chargers' 20-3 win over the Colts on "Monday Night Football" after a hard hit on Indianapolis receiver Ashton Dulin late in the first half.
Neither James nor Chargers coach Brandon Staley was pleased that the safety was ejected from the game even after his helmet slammed into the side of Dulin's head.
"I know Derwin’s intent," Staley said, per the Indianapolis Star. "I thought that he tried to lead with the shoulder."
Oh my. Derwin James just blasted Ashton Dulin and the Colts quickly took him to the medical tent.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 27, 2022
Derwin was ejected.pic.twitter.com/T90xif6ri4
Staley also placed the blame for the hit on Dulin and the Colts, as he believed the Colts "obviously laid the guy (Dulin) out in a tough position."
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Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday disagreed with Staley's assessment entirely.
"It was right in front of me, and it definitely deserved an ejection," Saturday said, per the Indianapolis Star. "You can’t launch into a guy’s head, especially a guy who’s turned the other way and unprotected."
Both Dulin and James ended up in the NFL's concussion protocol as a result of the hit. So, even if James' hit had been deemed legal, he wouldn't have been able to finish the game.
That's part of why Saturday went as far as saying that the hit would be a teach-tape moment for NFL teams and officials moving forward.
“If you look at all the rule changes over the last 10 years, or however long it’s been now, since we’ve been trying to take that stuff out of the game, that will be one that they’ll show week after week when they go to teams to say what you can’t do,” Saturday said. “I disagree (with Staley). I think the ejection was warranted."
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The NFL certainly did too, as the replay command center in New York is the party that decided James was to be tossed. James will not be suspended for that hit, but he can probably expect to pick up a hefty fine for it.
