The Los Angeles Chargers may not have Justin Herbert, Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater, and Joey Bosa when they host the Kansas City Chiefs. One thing is unfortunately now certain: They will have to slow down Patrick Mahomes without star safety Derwin James Jr.
Per Adam Schefter, James Jr. has been suspended one game. The notice to the safety is as follows:
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 significant risk of injury to an opposing player.
James Jr. has a playing style that teeters between old-school and reckless. His physical style of football is generally what made him a household name his rookie season; however, in recent years, it has on occasion turned him into a liability. He was the most penalized safety in 2023, with eight of the calls enforced and one declined.
His on-field play style switch now becomes tricky. Watch the first two games of the season and see a hesitant safety who doesn't work downhill on screens or run plays and crush the ball carrier. Pivot to Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and see a completely different player, one whose aggressive style of football led to his best performance of the season by far. How does one of the best safeties in football handle not being himself? Can he find a balance? The Chargers, Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, and James Jr. have a lot to ask themselves over the next couple of weeks.
