Chargers' Derwin James: I Won't 'Change S--t' in Play Style After 1-Game Suspension

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has no plans of changing his play style despite a one-game suspension from the NFL.

James missed the Chargers' matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday due to repeated violations of the league's playing rules.

"No, it ain't going to change s--t," James said, per ESPN's Kris Rhim. "It's definitely not going to change nothing. Like I said, I'm just going to go lower. I'm not going to change. I'm going to play my style, but like I said, I'll just go lower."

James' suspension came after he made forcible contact with Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth with his helmet in Week 3. The hit led to a flag for unnecessary roughness.

He received the following message from the NFL following the suspension, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

He appealed the suspension but was unsuccessful, meaning he had to sit out for one game.

"They told me the violation, the rule I broke and that was really it," James said of the hearing, per Rhim. "It wasn't, you know, [about] how I could get better or what they're calling."

The play marked the seventh time James has been flagged for unnecessary roughness in his career, tied for the second most in the NFL since 2018. While he plans to continue the big hits that have helped him make a name for himself, he said he'll look to hit players beneath the ball rather than above.

"I'm not going to keep paying 700, 800 thousand [dollars]," James said.

James had a career-high 125 tackles last season, also picking up a pair of sacks, an interception and seven passes deflected. Through three games this year, he has 21 tackles and a sack.

Following the Chargers' bye week this week, Los Angeles will take on the Denver Broncos on Oct. 13.