Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers roster just got more thin.
Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers remain second in the AFC West, but their season is starting to take a downturn. After suffering their first loss of the season to the Justin Fields-led Pittsburgh Steelers, more bad news followed for the West Coast team. The NFL has decided to impose a suitable punishment on Derwin James Jr. for his actions on the field.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh will be without Derwin James Jr. in the Chargers’ Week 4 rotation. The standout defender has been suspended for repeatedly violating league rules designed to ensure player health and safety. His conduct towards Justin Fields and the Steelers in Week 3 was also a factor in the suspension.
As a result, the Chargers will be missing their key pass rusher when they go up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Was Derwin James Jr. any good in the Chargers’ loss to the Steelers?
Derwin James Jr. was one of the few players who managed to disrupt the offensive flow of Justin Fields and the Steelers. He sacked the Steelers’ quarterback once, knocking the wind out of him, and continued to make things difficult for any offensive player he encountered. By the end of the Week 3 game, James had recorded five total tackles, three of which were solo efforts.
It’s natural for a player of his caliber to aim for big plays, such as forcing fumbles or tackling for a loss, which often leads to hard hits. However, sometimes those hits can cross the line. Now, Jim Harbaugh is faced with the challenge of adjusting his defense without James in the lineup. Fortunately, Khalil Mack has shown promise in this area, as he was the only other Charger to sack Fields during the game.