Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh disappointed after NFL suspends Dervin James

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Wednesday he is disappointed and disagrees with the NFL’s decision to suspend safety Derwin James Jr. for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

James was suspended for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers player Pat Freiermuth in the third quarter of Los Angeles’ 20-10 loss Sunday. James was suspended for unnecessary roughness during the game. Harbaugh said Freiermuth’s positioning was the reason for the illegal hit.

“There was no unarmed player; he changed his trajectory, and I thought Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth,” he said. “I thought (the stiff-arm) caused him to hit his head, and I thought it was first the forearm, then the shoulder, then the head.”

Harbaugh said James’ intervention seemed to be exactly what the league was looking for in terms of “getting your head out of the game.”

“You can’t really take the head out of the game because it’s between the shoulders,” he said. “I’m trying to deal with the shoulder, and now the head, and the helmet that comes with it. It’s between the shoulders. So, as best he can, he’s trying to do that.”

James has been given seven unnecessary roughness penalties since entering the NFL in 2018, the second-most in the league during that span. Harbaugh said James has made a concerted effort to avoid those penalties, often allowing extra yardage in games as he prepares before hits to avoid flags.

“He reached out to officials last summer to get a better understanding of how this was going to be done,” Harbaugh said. “And the evidence is right there on the tape. I mean, look at all of his tackles, which were about 20 tackles during the season, and he was doing everything he could to … not hit another player or headbutt them. So, yeah, I’m disappointed.”

Harbaugh said James “didn’t really want to hurt anybody” and that he wasn’t upset with his player.

In the NFL’s announcement, vice president of football operations John Runyan wrote that the video shows James lowered his head on the hit, resulting in illegal and forced contact with his helmet that James could have avoided.

“Your continued disregard for NFL rules will not be tolerated,” Runyan wrote. “Significant penalties are due when players repeatedly violate rules intended to protect player safety, especially when violations pose a significant risk of injury to an opposing player.”

James appealed the suspension, but it was upheld by hearing officer Derrick Brooks, who was jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

The Chargers’ backup defensive line includes Elijah Molden and AJ Finley. Molden intercepted a pass that earned him a chance to play in the Chargers’ Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers.