The Los Angeles Chargers might be with out star security Derwin James Jr. this week in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs after the league decided he may have averted a helmet-to-helmet hit on Pittsburgh Steelers tight finish Pat Freiermuth within the Chargers’ Week 3 loss.Â
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t maintain again his ideas on the matter when talking with reporters Wednesday, saying he was “disillusioned” within the one-game suspension with out pay.
“You possibly can by no means actually take the top out of the sport as a result of it’s in between the 2 shoulders,” Harbaugh defined, based on Professional Soccer Discuss.Â
“Attempting to sort out with the shoulder, now the top, the helmet’s coming with it. It’s in between the 2 shoulders. So, to the very best of his human skill, he’s making an attempt to try this. Genuinely cares and desires to do it absolutely the proper method.”
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Derwin James Jr. (3) of the Los Angeles Chargers greets head coach Jim Harbaugh earlier than a sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at Financial institution of America Stadium Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (Kara Durrette/Getty Photographs)
Video of James’ hit on Freiermuth confirmed their helmets collided, however Harbaugh doesn’t imagine the protection was doing so deliberately.Â
NFL SUSPENDS CHARGERS STAR DERWIN JAMES JR. WITHOUT PAY FOR ‘REPEATED VIOLATIONS’ OF UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS
“There was not a defenseless participant, modified his course, and I assumed that Derwin’s helmet was stiff-armed by Mr. Freiermuth,” Harbaugh stated. “I assumed that brought on his head to make the contact, and I assumed the contact was first with the forearm, then the shoulder, then the top.”
Harbaugh has publicly proven love and respect for James since taking up as head coach this season, saying how a lot James’ management means as he tries to construct his new system in LA.
Derwin James Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers in motion in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sept. 22, 2024, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. (Justin Okay. Aller/Getty Photographs)
James appealed his suspension, however it was upheld after a listening to. Relatively than hold forth on the league for the choice, Harbaugh revealed that James had already requested officers within the offseason what he can do to enhance.Â
“He has reached out on his personal to officers this previous summer season to achieve a greater grasp of how they need it performed,” Harbaugh revealed. “And the proof is correct there within the tape. I imply, have a look at all his 20-some tackles on the season, and he’s going out of his method, actually going out of his method, typically giving up yards, in order that he can’t injure one other participant or hit him with the top. So, yeah, I’m disillusioned.”
James has not less than 115 tackles in every of the final three seasons, together with a career-high 125 final season in 16 video games.Â
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers stands for the nationwide anthem subsequent to Derwin James Jr. (3) earlier than a sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers at Financial institution of America Stadium Sept. 15, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (Kara Durrette/Getty Photographs)
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By means of three video games this 12 months, James has 21 mixed tackles, two for losses, and one sack.Â
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